Effects of Foot Structure on Reading Performance in Japanese Six-Year-Old Children

Abstract

InJapanese, a sequence of two moras is considered to fbrm a prosodic unit, or fbot. It has been reported that 4-mora words with an F (fbot)+F (foot) structure are easy to utter. The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether it is easier for typically developing children to read 4mora words with an F+F structure than 3-mora words without it. The stimu]i were low-familiarity 4-mora words with an F+F structure and 3-mora words. The participants, 17 six;yeaFold nursery school children, were asked to read the stimulus words as fast as possib]e. The children's mean vocal reaction time was significant]y shorter for wQrds with 4 moras with an F+F structure than fbr those with 8 moras. This result suggests that 4-mora words with an F+F structure are easier fbr 6`year-olds to read than 3-mora words.