Universal and Language-Specific Aspects of Word-Memory Processes: Japanese, Chinese, and English

Abstract

The universal and language-specific features of word-memory processes were investigated. In Exp. 1, word lists in Japanese Kanji, Chinese, and English and two types of nonsense words (CV–CV and CVC–CVC) were presented auditorily or visually to native speakers of those languages for immediate recall, with or without suppression of the phonological loop by secondary digit memory tasks. English words were also presented to Japanese subjects. We found that phonological loop suppression in all the languages was associated with significant reduction in recall in every condition. When recalling meaningful words, English and Chinese subjects had superior recall with auditory presentation; however, Japanese subjects showed no significant differences between the two modalities and showed higher recall with visual presentation when English words were presented. When recalling nonsense words, all groups of subjects showed either higher recall with visual presentation or no differences between the modalities. Moreover, as the differences between the syllable structures of the subjects' native languages and the stimuli to be remembered increased, they were likely to rely on visual memory. In Exp. 2, lists of Kanji and Kana words were presented in the two modalities only to Japanese speakers. Auditory presentation was superior to visual presentation only for Kana words.