The relationship between affective word ratings and lexico-semantic properties in Chinese words rated by Mandarin speakers

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between lexical-semantic features: age of acquisition, familiarity, subjective frequency and imageability and affective features: emotional valence and arousal of Chinese words for native Mandarin speakers. Lexical items from the Object and Action Naming Battery (Druks & Masterson, 2000) were selected. One hundred and seventy monosyllables produced by native Mandarin speakers with high naming agreement were used. Eighty participants were recruited to rate items on lexical and affective features. The results showed that all features were highly correlated. Ratings of word imageability and frequency significantly predicted ratings of emotional arousal and frequency significantly predicted ratings of emotional valence. The results can be used to develop standardized object and action naming tests to assess aphasia in Mandarin-speaking patients. The results can also guide choice of target stimuli for rehabilitation of Mandarin-speaking patients with aphasia.