A cross-linguistic investigation of the onset effect in reading aloud : No need to mope about the MOPE

There are around 7,000 different languages. The unique orthographic characteristics of different languages can help us to gain insight into the seemingly simple process of transforming written script to spoken words (i.e., reading aloud). In this thesis, using behavioral and electroencephalography (EEG) measures the time course of reading (aloud) was investigated in first, second, and cross-language situations. Overall, target words (e.g., CARPET) were read aloud faster when preceded by phonologically (e.g., kettle) but not orthographically onset-related primes (e.g., circus). However, this pattern was absent during silent reading and reading in Persian where words are printed without vowels. EEG data revealed both orthographic and phonological activation about 150 milliseconds after target presentation for all situations and languages. These results suggest that reading starts with same processes __ whether silent or aloud or in different scripts. Additionally, even if we have an accent in a second language, the phonological code is activated similarly as for a native speaker. To conclude, this thesis favors computational models assuming early conversion of orthography-to-phonology. However, with approximately half of the world__s population being bilingual and the results presented in this thesis, it is important that computational models of reading processes extend their horizon.