Word frequency affects naming latency in Dutch when age of acquisition is controlled.

Abstract

Morrison and Ellis (1995) claim that most evidence of frequency effects in word recognition is not genuine but an artefact of the age at which the words have been acquired. The finding that age of acquisition (AOA) has a reliable independent effect on word naming is replicated for the Dutch language. However, it is also shown that the effect of word frequency remains reliable with AOA controlled. A possible interpretation is that the English studies have been based on retrospective student ratings, whereas in the present study a more on-line measure of AOA was used.