Media

HKU New Study Examines Chinese Children

06 Jun 2005

 

For the first time, researchers from the University of Hong Kong (HKU) have shown that the ability to read Chinese is associated with a child's writing skills. This challenges the prominent theory of reading development assuming that reading ability build on spoken language and, thus, the child's awareness of speech sound structure plays a pivotal role.

The work "Reading depends on writing, in Chinese" by Dr. Siok Wai-Ting, HKU's assistant research professor of linguistics, and her colleagues in HKU was published on June 6, 2005 in the Proceedings of National Academy of Science of the United States of America (PNAS), one of the prestigious multidisciplinary scientific journals.

Dr Siok Wai-Ting and Dr Tan Li-Hai of HKU's Department of Linguistics will present their research findings at a press briefing tomorrow. Professor John Spinks, as one of the co-authors of the research paper, will also join the session. Details of the press briefing session as follows:

Date: June 7, 2005 (Tuesday)
Time: 11:00am
Venue: Room 218, Convocation Room, Main Building, The University of Hong Kong

This is the third in a series of announcements of research excellence at the University of Hong Kong. Media representatives are cordially invited to attend. Media representatives are cordially invited to attend. For details please contact Miss Polo Leung of External Relations Office (tel: 2859 2600).