Use of colour for language processing during reading

Abstract

The study examined whether literal correspondence is necessary for the use of visual features during word recognition and text comprehension. Eye movements were recorded during reading and used to change the colour of dialogue when it was fixated. In symbolically congruent colour conditions, dialogue of female and male characters was shown in orchid and blue, respectively. The reversed assignment was used in incongruent conditions, and no colouring was applied in a control condition. Analyses of oculomotor activity revealed Stroop-type congruency effects during dialogue reading, with shorter viewing durations in congruent than incongruent conditions. Colour influenced oculomotor measures that index the recognition and integration of words, indicating that it influenced multiple stages of language processing.

Keywords:

• Colour
• Eye movements
• Reading
• Visual imagery
• Visual symbols

Acknowledgments

We thank Meghan Dembrosky, Kaitlyn Pittman, Chris Cotrone, and Vanessa Kay for their help with stimulus preparation and data collection, and the reviewers for insightful comments.

Notes

¹The names were included to select individuals with internalized gender-specific colour schemes, as these schemes are arbitrary, subject to cultural differences, and amenable to change. At the beginning of the twentieth century, pink was considered acceptable for boys and blue for girls. “The reason is that pink being a more decided and stronger colour is more suitable for the boy, while blue, which is more delicate and dainty, is prettier for the girl” (Ladies Home Journal, June 1918).

²Position effects were applied to Line 1. Fewer than half of the dialogue segments extended into Line 2, and Line 2 segments were relatively small.