Reading without Semantics

Abstract

Analysis of the reading of a neurological patient (HTR) indicates that it is based on the operation of a relatively unimpaired phonological route. Quantitative investigations of type of error, reading speed and the effects of lexicality and spelling-to-sound regularity all support this conclusion. Spelling-to-sound regularity is shown to influence reading not only through regular words being better read than irregular, but also through mildly irregular words being better read than very irregular ones. A model is presented of the operation of the phonological route and of its progressive impairment in certain types of neurological disease.