Eye movement and air writing during errant judgement of Kanji shape by learners of Japanese from non-Kanji area

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between eye movement, correct rate, reaction time, and air writing when adult learners of Japanese language from where Kanji is not used participate in errata judgement of Kanji shape. There were five stimulus groups, Vague, Pseudo, Korean, Inverted and Real. Vague was based on learners’ writing mistakes. Pseudo had non-exist a radical and parts combination. The position of a radical and parts was inverted in Inverted.  Characteristics of participants with poor correct rates of Vague and Inverted were no air writing and smaller in the number of point of gaze (NPG), distance of eye move (DEM), reaction time (RT), and small differences of NPG, DEM, and RT within 5 stimulus groups. It appears that poor correct rates are related to poor analysis of Kanji shape. Air writing seems to be a good index of internalization of knowledge of Kanji shape.