Investigating the Asymmetrical Roles of Syllabic and Phonemic Awareness in Akshara Processing

2017 ◽  
Vol 51 (5) ◽  
pp. 499-506 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pooja R. Nakamura ◽  
R. Malatesha Joshi ◽  
Xuejun Ryan Ji

In this study, we examine the relative contributions of syllabic awareness, phonemic awareness, and oral vocabulary knowledge in early akshara reading ability from Grades 1 through 5. The performance of 488 students in two states of South India, Karnataka (Kannada language) and Andhra Pradesh (Telugu language), was measured. Results from a commonality analysis indicate that there was an increasing independent contribution of syllabic awareness to Kannada and Telugu decoding through the five grades, but the unique contribution of phonemic awareness steadily declined through the five grades, as it became subsumed within syllabic awareness. The contribution of oral vocabulary knowledge did not present a clear pattern across the five grades. This study builds on a growing body of literature on the akshara orthographies to shed light on the precise nature of the developmental asymmetry in the dual syllabic and phonemic representation in akshara reading.

BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. e036213
Author(s):  
Tina Bonde Sorensen ◽  
Robin Wilson ◽  
John Gregson ◽  
Bhavani Shankar ◽  
Alan D Dangour ◽  
...  

ObjectivesTo explore associations of night-time light intensity (NTLI), a novel proxy for continuous urbanisation levels, with mean systolic blood pressure (SBP), body mass index (BMI), fasting serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and fasting plasma glucose (FPG), among adults in early-stage urbanisation in Telangana, South India.DesignCross-sectional analysis of the third wave of the Andhra Pradesh Children and Parents Study cohort.Setting28 villages representing a continuum of urbanisation levels, ranging from rural settlement to medium-sized town in Telangana, South India.ParticipantsData were available from 6944 participants, 6236 of whom were eligible after excluding pregnant women, participants younger than 18 years of age and participants missing data for age. Participants were excluded if they did not provide fasting blood samples, had implausible or missing outcome values, were medicated for hypertension or diabetes or had triglyceride levels invalidating derived LDL. The analysis included 5924 participants for BMI, 5752 participants for SBP, 5287 participants for LDL and 5328 participants for FPG.ResultsIncreasing NTLI was positively associated with mean BMI, SBP and LDL but not FPG. Adjusted mean differences across the range of village-level NTLI were 1.0 kg/m2 (95% CI 0.01 to 1.9) for BMI; 4.2 mm Hg (95% CI 1.0 to 7.4) for SBP; 0.3 mmol/L (95% CI −0.01 to 0.7) for LDL; and −0.01 mmol/L (95% CI −0.4 to 0.4) for FPG. Associations of NTLI with BMI and SBP were stronger in older age groups.ConclusionThe association of NTLI with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors identify NTLI as a potentially important tool for exploring urbanisation-related health. Consistent associations of moderate increases in urbanisation levels with important CVD risk factors warrant prevention strategies to curb expected large public health impacts from continued and rapid urbanisation in India.


2009 ◽  
Vol 42 (5) ◽  
pp. 464-474 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra Stotsky

To determine the extent to which knowledge of evidence-based reading instruction and mathematics is assessed on licensure tests for prospective special education teachers, this study drew on information provided by Educational Testing Service (ETS), the American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence, and National Evaluation Systems (now Evaluation Systems group of Pearson). It estimated the percentage of test items on phonemic awareness, phonics, and vocabulary knowledge and on mathematics content. It also analyzed descriptions of ETS’s tests of “principles of teaching and learning.” Findings imply that prospective special education teachers should be required to take both a dedicated test of evidence-based reading instructional knowledge, as in California, Massachusetts, and Virginia, and a test of mathematical knowledge, as in Massachusetts. States must design their own tests of teaching principles to assess knowledge of evidence-based educational theories.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 1510
Author(s):  
David L. Share

In this discussion paper, I review a number of common misconceptions about the phonological deficit theory (PDH) of dyslexia. These include the common but mistaken idea that the PDH is simply about phonemic awareness (PA), and, consequently, is a circular “pseudo”-explanation or epiphenomenon of reading difficulties. I argue that PA is only the “tip of the phonological iceberg” and that “deeper” spoken-language phonological impairments among dyslexics appear well before the onset of reading and even at birth. Furthermore, not even reading-specific expressions of phonological deficits—PA or pseudoword naming, can be considered circular if we clearly distinguish between reading proper—real meaning-bearing words, or real text, and the mechanisms (subskills) of reading development (such as phonological recoding). I also explain why an understanding of what constitutes an efficient writing system explains why phonology is necessarily a major source of variability in reading ability and hence a core deficit (or at least one core deficit) among struggling readers whether dyslexic or non-dyslexic. I also address the misguided notion that the PDH has now fallen out of favor because most dyslexia researchers have (largely) ceased studying phonological processing. I emphasize that acceptance of the PDH does not imply repudiation of other non-phonological hypotheses because the PDH does not claim to account for all the variance in reading ability/disability. Finally, I ask where neurobiology enters the picture and suggest that researchers need to exercise more caution in drawing their conclusions.


2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 199-235
Author(s):  
Chan Lü ◽  
Keiko Koda

Studies on monolingual children have shown that home language and literacy support is crucial in children's early literacy acquisition. However, such support has not been examined as thoroughly among bilingual children, including heritage speakers. This study investigated the effect of home language and literacy support on important precursors of literacy skills including oral vocabulary knowledge, phonological awareness, and decoding skill in English and Chinese, among a group of 37 Chinese heritage language (CHL) learners. Our results suggest that the use of Chinese at home supported children's language and literacy skills in Chinese, especially their oral vocabulary knowledge; support of learning Chinese at home did not hinder children's acquisition of literacy skills in English. Implications for parents and teachers of CHL learners in relation to their biliteracy learning are discussed.


2019 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 99-103
Author(s):  
Neerja Pande ◽  
◽  
Priyanshu Srivastava ◽  
A.K. Asthana ◽  
◽  
...  

A recent exploration and study on bryophytes of Eastern Ghats’ area of Andhra Pradesh has revealed the occurrence of two pleurocarpous mosses viz., Thuidium assimile (Mitt.) A. Jaeger and Anomodon minor subsp. integerrimus (Mitt.) Iwatsuki as new addition to the moss flora of South India. A detailed morpho-taxonomical account and illustration of these taxa are provided.


Work ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Pradeep Kumar Hanumegowda ◽  
Sakthivel Gnanasekaran ◽  
Shankar Subramaniam ◽  
Adarsh Honnappa

BACKGROUND: The majority of handicraft workers in India falls under the informal sector, which plays a prominent role in the employment generation. Artisans in handicraft sectors encounter various hazards and risks causing occupational diseases. OBJECTIVE: The key objective of the study is to identify the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders and occupational risk factors among the artisans involved in making traditional lacquerware toys in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, South India. METHODS: The subjects considered in this study are 177 artisans who work in mechanized lathes at Channapatna of Karnataka and Etikoppaka of Andhra Pradesh, South India. The information regarding the reported work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSD) symptoms from 7 days to 12 months are collected through modified Standardized Nordic Questionnaire and by direct observations. Moreover, the intervention of WMSD in their day-to-day life and the overall comfort of their body are also determined. The questionnaire survey is conducted through face-to-face interviews and by direct field study. RESULTS: From the statistical analysis, it is found that about 76.83%of the study population (77.4%male and 74.28%female) has self-reported WMSDs. The prevalence of WMSD is most common in the age group of 30–40 years. Physical factors like workplace adaptability, stress at work, body postures, health status, body mass index, active and enough breaks during work and body condition at the end of work have a significant association with WMSD. CONCLUSION: In this study, many of the work-related and lifestyle/health-related factors show a significant association with WMSD in artisans. The sub-standard working environment and the nature of work expose artisans to many occupational risks in their day-to-day life. To mitigate the occupational risks and musculoskeletal disorders, the workspace needs to be resigned ergonomically.


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