The role of semantic radical in meaning access during character recognition using a semantic categorization task

Abstract

This study reports an investigation on the role of semantic radical in meaning access during character recognition. Previous studies believed that semantic transparency has an effect on radical processing and retrieval of meaning. A semantic category judgment task was conducted. Behavioral data of accuracy rate and response time were recorded and analyzed. Three-way factorial design was adopted to investigate the effect of two categories used – inanimate object and human action, response type and transparency. In the design, both transparent and opaque characters were included in both “yes” and “no” categorical judgment, creating four character types. Facilitation of transparent characters on categorical judgment was expected (i.e. Transparent characters would be recognized and responded faster than opaque characters). Moreover, imageability was taken into consideration, which was hypothesized that imageability effect may have explained the difference in terms accuracy and response time between transparent and opaque characters. The present findings suggested that no significant transparency effect was found when imageability was taken into account and controlled across conditions. Characters in the category of object were responded faster and more accurately than action.