ORTHOGRAPHY, HANDWRITING, AND NEUROPLASTICITY IN CHINESE L2 LEARNING: A SYNTHESIS OF CURRENT EVIDENCE

Authors : Yasemin Çimen

Pages : 355-374

Doi:10.61134/audodilder.1828897

View : 29 | Download : 62

Publication Date : 2025-12-31

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Learning to read Chinese presents a unique cognitive challenge for second language (L2) learners, requiring the integration of intricate visuospatial analysis, motor execution, and arbitrary form–meaning associations. This article synthesizes two decades of cognitive neuroscience research to demonstrate that overcoming this challenge induces specific, experience-dependent changes in the brain—and that these changes are profoundly shaped by the nature of the learning experience. The literature collectively outlines a neural trajectory from novice to proficient reader, marked by a shift from diffuse, effortful processing to a more specialized network involving the left middle frontal gyrus for visual analysis and the ventral occipitotemporal cortex for character recognition. Research further indicates that learning methods serve as powerful modulators of this plasticity. Digital Pinyin input efficiently engages phonological pathways but under-recruits the visuospatial and motor circuits essential for fluent character processing. In contrast, the physical act of handwriting strengthens the dorsal visuomotor pathway, fostering robust neural representations associated with superior long-term retention. By integrating findings from cognitive neuroscience with classroom-relevant concerns, this synthesis underscores the need for pedagogical approaches that align with the brain’s adaptive mechanisms. Rather than presenting a fully developed model, the accumulated evidence suggests the potential for creating a practical, “brain-aware” instructional framework—one that strategically incorporates handwriting as a means of harnessing neuroplasticity to support the development of foundational neural architecture for proficient Chinese literacy.
Keywords : İkinci dil olarak Çince (D2, Bilişsel sinirbilim, Pedagoji, El yazısı, Dijital girdi

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