Abstract
Reading and writing multidigit numbers requires accurate switching between Arabic numbers and spoken number words. This is particularly challenging in languages with number-word inversion such as German (24 is pronounced as four-and-twenty), as reported by Zuber, Pixner, Moeller, and Nuerk (2009, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jecp.2008.04.003). The current study aimed to replicate the qualitative error analysis by Zuber et al. and further extended their study: 1) A cross-linguistic (German, English) analysis enabled us to differentiate between language-dependent and more general transcoding challenges. 2) We investigated whether specific number structures influence accuracy rates. 3) To consider both transcoding directions (from Arabic numbers to number words and vice versa), we assessed performance for number reading in addition to number writing. 4) Our longitudinal design allowed us to investigate transcoding development between Grades 1 and 2. We assessed 170 German- and 264 English-speaking children. Children wrote and read the same set of 44 one-, two- and three-digit numbers, including the same number structures as Zuber et al. For German, we confirmed that a high amount of errors in number writing was inversion-related. For English, the percentage of inversion-related errors was very low. Accuracy rates were strongly related to number syntax. The impact of number structures was independent of transcoding direction or grade level and revealed cross-linguistic challenges of transcoding multidigit numbers. For instance, transcoding of three-digit numbers containing syntactic zeros (e.g., 109) was significantly more accurate than transcoding of items with lexical zeros (e.g., 190). Based on our findings, we suggest adaptations of current transcoding models.
Highlights
ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to establish a sound empirical basis to improve current transcoding models
Two aspects were of particular interest: We investigated the language-specificity of transcoding procedures by focusing on the cross-linguistic comparison of XXX-numbers versus numbers with language-independent number structures (e.g., X00, X0X- or XX0-numbers) as only XXX-numbers require decade-unit inversion in German
Number word structure has a significant impact on early transcoding
Summary
The aim of this study was to establish a sound empirical basis to improve current transcoding models. The aim of the current study was to replicate and extend findings reported by Zuber et al (2009), which had an important impact on later work on transcoding development
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