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In:Writing Systems, Reading Processes, and Cross-Linguistic Influences: Reflections from the Chinese, Japanese and Korean Languages
Edited by Hye K. Pae
[Bilingual Processing and Acquisition 7] 2018
► pp. 179–200

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Chapter 9
Introduction to the multi-script Japanese writing system and word processing

Published online: 10 July 2018
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/bpa.7.09joy
Abstract
The general consensus among writing-systems researchers is that the Japanese writing system (JWS) is remarkably complex (Joyce, 2002a, 2011). This introductory chapter consists of two main parts that, respectively, provide an overview of the multi-script JWS and a selective review of psycholinguistic research on Japanese visual word processing. More specifically, after outlining its historical development, Part 2 focuses on the contemporary JWS and on highlighting the complex conventions that simultaneously underlie how the component scripts are employed together in essentially complementary ways while effectively sanctioning its pervasive levels of orthographic variation. In contrast, the shorter Part 3 reflects on how JWS’s complexity both poses certain challenges and also affords unique opportunities for investigating the complicated interactions involved in word processing.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.JWS
    • 2.1Historical development of the JWS
    • 2.2Contemporary JWS and its multi-scripts
      • 2.2.1Morphographic kanji
      • 2.2.2Syllabographic kana
      • 2.2.3Phonemic rōmaji, Arabic numerals and punctuation
  • 3. Psycholinguistic studies of Japanese word processing
    • 3.1Misleading, but enduring, dichotomies
    • 3.2Studies of single kanji processing
    • 3.3Studies of kana processing and kana-kanji comparisons
    • 3.4Studies of compound word processing
  • 4.Conclusion
  • References
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