PHONOLOGICAL SENSITIVITY IN NOVICE READERS AND NONREADERS

This research reexamined recent claims that phonemic sensitivity is li mited to alphabetically literate people by investigating the associati on between phonological sensitivity and novice reading skill in 5-year -old children who had not been exposed to formal reading instruction. The current study found clear evidence that both novice readers and no nreaders high in letter knowledge were sensitive to phonemic units. Ch ildren classified as novice readers were higher in both phonological s ensitivity and verbal ability than nonreaders. Robust differences in p honological sensitivity remained between novice readers and nonreaders equivalent in letter knowledge after verbal ability effects were cont rolled. Although nonreaders varying in letter knowledge also differed in phonological sensitivity, this result may have reflected underlying differences in verbal ability. (C) 1994 Academic Press. Inc.