This is largely related to the fact that larger words have more letters to analyze, and therefore require more time (in milliseconds) to decode. This information is largely gained through a methodology known as serial letter recognition, in which words are examined individually from a left to right situation, much the way people look up words in the dictionary. However, evidence suggests that this model is not as effective as the parallel letter recognition theory, which posits that words are internalized simultaneously (Larsen).
Another fairly important facet of word recognition has to do with context. The theory that considers context is known as word shape, which contends that people are able to recognize words based on the shape and the usage of those words, as well as on the structure of sentences. There are aspects of word shape that operate in conjunction with serial letter recognition, such as the fact that people are able to utilize semantics to recognize words. This semantic aspect of word recognition adheres to principles of sentence structure as well. There are familiar beginnings and endings of certain phrases; it is possible to look at part of a sentence and anticipate what word, or what sort of word, is going to come next without actually seeing it, due to facets of idiomatic expression and points of commonalities in the way that sentences are phrased. This information, which readers utilize in conjunction with meaning and anticipated meanings of words that should be forthcoming, can assist in word recognition. The effect of sentence structure...
Additionally, it is noteworthy to mention that parallel letter recognition is the most generally accepted model for how word recognition is achieved. Still, there are aspects of other models, such as word shape and serial letter recognition, which assist with word recognition although these theories have primarily been rejected as sole, comprehensive explanations of this phenomenon. Although this information suggests that spelling and the placement of letters is the primary factor in word recognition, this process also incorporates aspects of whole words relating to semantic information and sentence structure. In that respect,-word recognition incorporates a plethora of models and theories.
Works Cited
Grandidier, F., Sabourin, R., El Yacoubi, a., Gilloux, M., Suen. C.Y. "Influence of Word Length on Handwriting Recognition." Cite Seer. 1999. Web. http://www.cenparmi.concordia.ca/publications/pdf/1999/grandidier_icdar99.pdf
Larsen, K. "The Science of Word Recognition." Microsoft. 2004. Web. http://www.microsoft.com/typography/ctfonts/WordRecognition.aspx
Mandernach, J. "Word Recognition." Online Psychology Laboratory. No date. Web. http://opl.apa.org/Experiments/About/AboutWordRecognition.aspx
