Degree of Illiteracy and Phonlogical and Metaphonological Skills in Unschooled Adults

• Published in: Brain and language Vol. 89; no. 3; pp. 499 - 502
• Main Authors: Loureiro, Clara de Santos, Braga, Lucia Willadino, Souza, Ligia do Nascimento, Filho, Gilberto Nunes, Queiroz, Elizabeth, Dellatolas, Georges
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.06.2004
• ISSN: 0093-934X

Phonological & metaphonological skills are explored in 97 Brazilian illiterate & semiliterate adults. A simple letter- & word-reading task was used to define the degree of illiteracy. Phonemic awareness was strongly dependent on the level of letter & word reading ability. Phonological memory was very low in illiterates & unrelated to letter knowledge. Rhyme identification was relatively preserved in illiterates & semiliterates, & unrelated to letter & word reading level. Phonetic discrimination (minimal pairs) was fairly good & marginally related to reading ability. These results suggest that phonological sensitivity, phonological memory, rhyme identification, & phonemic awareness are distinctive cognitive processes, & that only phonemic awareness is clearly & strongly dependent on the alphabetical acquisition. 2 Tables, 19 References. [Copyright 2004 Academic Press.]