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Article published In: Written Language & Literacy
Vol. 25:2 (2022) ► pp.159–182

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Evaluating preschoolers’ references to characteristics of the Hebrew orthography via a computerized early spelling game

 | Shaanan Academic Teachers CollegeHaifa
 | Tel Aviv University
Published online: 6 December 2022
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https://doi.org/10.1075/wll.00065.ara
Abstract
The current study evaluated how characteristics of Hebrew, a Semitic language with an abjad writing system, are manifested in Hebrew-speaking preschoolers’ play with a computerized spelling game adapted for Hebrew. The game words were of different lengths and structures so as to include the entire Hebrew alphabet and all the vowels (a, e, i, o, u) in all possible positions in the word (first, last, second). We analyzed the 18,720 spellings typed by 96 preschoolers aged 5;7 years (on average) who played the game during eight sessions (about 20 minutes per session) in one month.
The study indicated a greater difficulty in spelling א, ה, ו, י letters as consonants than as vowels, and more success in spelling ב, כ, פ letters that are pronounced as stops, as compared to the same letters that are pronounced as spirants. The success in spelling consonants and consonant-vowel letters was identical. Within a word, there was greater success in spelling the first letter, than in spelling the last letter, and the second letter. The length of the word did not influence success in spelling the first, second, or last letter in the word. At the same time, spelling an entire shorter word was easier than spelling an entire longer word. Lastly, spelling of words to which children had more exposures was easier than spelling words with only a single exposure. The discussion focuses on the implications of the study and refers to the nature of appropriate literacy-oriented digital Hebrew games and activities with preschoolers.
Article outline
  • Early literacy
  • Digital spelling games
  • Structure & unique characteristics of Hebrew
    • Vowel letters as consonants
    • Letters indicating stop / spirant alternation
    • Letters that represent consonant+vowel sequences compared to letters that represent consonants
  • General characteristics of early writing
    • Frequent letters
    • Letter placement in words
    • Spelling short vs. long words
    • Repeating vs. new words
  • Study aims & hypotheses
  • Method
    • The spelling game
    • Participants
    • Procedure
    • Measures
  • Results
    • אהוי Letters as consonants
    • Letters pronounced as stop or corresponding spirant
    • CV units compared to consonants
    • Frequent vs. less frequent letters
    • Letter spelling based on placement in the word
    • Short vs. long words & frequent vs. new words
  • Discussion
    • The importance of orthography-specific spelling games
    • Hebrew-specific characteristics
      • Spelling אהוי letters as consonants
      • Spelling בכפ letters as stops or spirants
      • Spelling letters that represent CV units vs. consonants (Cs)
    • General characteristics of spelling in alphabetical systems
      • Letters that appear frequently
      • Letter placement in words
      • Spelling short (2–3 letters) vs. long words (4–6 letters)
      • Repeating vs. new words
    • Limitations & educational implications
  • References
References (67)
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