The influence of semantic predictability on transposition effects in Chinese and English

Abstract

Abstract Semantic predictability is one of the important factors that influence word processing and recognition. Based on the SPaM paradigm (Self-paced reading + Masked priming), the present study explores the influence of semantic predictability on TL effects in Chinese and English. The findings show that in both languages, internal and final transpositions produce priming effect in low-predictability preceding and following contexts as well as in high-predictability following contexts. From the perspective of priming magnitude, internal transposition produces greater priming effect than final transposition in English, while in Chinese, final transposition produces greater priming effect than internal transposition. In high-predictability preceding contexts, internal and final transpositions reveal significant priming effect and initial transposition produces close-to-significant-level priming effect in English, while in Chinese, no significant priming effect is observed in initial, internal or final transpositions.