Spelling challenges in Hindi

Journal article

Fourth standard students (8–10 years old) learning Hindi as an additional language played a mobile game that teaches children to identify complex akshara (akshara that contain at least two consonant components) and spell words that contain complex akshara. We analyzed the game data to identify aspects of both akshara and words that are challenging to students. We replicated some findings from previous studies: (1) students struggle with complex akshara that look different than their components (i.e., opaque complex akshara); (2) they struggle with akshara that have a nonlinear arrangement of components; and (3) they struggle to spell words when there is a mismatch between the orthographic and phonological syllable. Because we had more stimuli than previous studies, we were able to examine finer comparisons in opacity and linearity. Furthermore, we were the first to identify that students make rampant phonological errors specifically on aspirated consonants, which are relatively rare in Hindi.

Authors: Bhide, A; Perfetti, CA; Luo, W; Vijay, N; Wang, J

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Springer
• Journal: Psychological Studies
• Volume: 66
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 390-407
• Publication date: 2021-12-11
• Acceptance date: 2021-09-02
• DOI: 10.1007/s12646-021-00625-8
• EISSN: 0974-9861
• ISSN: 0033-2968
• Language: English
• Keywords: decoding; spelling; alphasyllabaries; FFR; educational games; Hindi