Substantial evidence emphasizing the importance of linguistic systems in reading acquisition, as well as emerging literature identifying the contribution of executive function to linguistic-based difficulties, underscores the importance of clarifying the neurocognitive mechanisms affecting reading performance. Research demonstrating the interrelationship between reading and spelling, coupled with neurocognitive theories of spelling, suggests that analysis of children’s spelling attempts may capture more subtle differences in their understanding of how to decode text. This study aimed to determine the utility of applying a spelling error analysis system as a method for differentiating between reading difficulties resulting from executive dysfunction or language deficits in a sample of children at risk for reading failure. The present study examined the relationship between executive function, language, and spelling achievement in a sample of 82 children aged 6-15 years identified as having a reading deficit and/or diagnosed with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Hierarchical regression analyses indicated language-based skills, particularly word reading, and age significantly predicted the phonemic equivalency of misspellings. Tasks of executive functioning were not found to significantly contribute to performance on phonological spelling; however, analysis of group differences suggest that ADHD and Reading Deficit groups demonstrated unique cognitive profiles, including distinct performances on executive functioning tasks. Exploratory analyses also revealed that ADHD and Reading Deficit groups differed significantly in phonological spelling performance. Results from the current study provide evidence for the presence of two distinct underlying cognitive processes affecting spelling and, in effect, reading. Current findings have implications for the need to further examine characteristic deficits in language and executive functioning affecting children at risk for reading failure. Findings also provide support for the validity of further investigating the potential to infer differential diagnostic categories using a phonological spelling analysis. The use of an analysis of spelling errors as a diagnostic data source holds promise for a better understanding of reading failure and, ultimately, may contribute to more effective intervention practices. / text

Due to the increased usage of technology and its indicated aid in writing acquisition, it is important to investigate the effects of spell-checkers on the English language. Thus, this essay has conducted a quantitative study to ascertain if there has been an improvement or regression in English spelling with the aim of gathering an indication of if and how spelling has evolved and changed with the development of spell-checkers. This study intended to answer two main questions: “Has spelling improved after spell-checkers were invented?” and “Can spell-checkers be seen as an aid in helping people learn how to spell better?”. Texts from before the development of spell-checkers and texts from after were utilized and searched for possible misspellings, to identify whether spelling has improved or not. The main finding was that there was a numerical difference between the two groups of texts, with the older texts containing an average of 43% misspellings as opposed to the newer texts which comprised an average of 7% misspellings. Thus, it was concluded that with the emergence of spell-checkers, spelling has improved. In relation to the second question, this research detected that although spelling mistakes have decreased, certain misspellings and errors are occurring, such as errors in transposition and omission, indicating that spell- checkers might not in fact be an aid in improving spelling competence. However, more data is required with regard to the second question, thus the answer remains inconclusive, with the need for further data to reach an assertive answer.

Die Dissertation untersucht die Entwicklung der Rechtschreibfertigkeiten von Schülern mit Deutsch als Zweitsprache im Vergleich zu ihren Mitschülern mit Deutsch als Muttersprache in der Sekundarstufe I. Kern der Untersuchung bildet die Methode der Fehleranalyse. Mittels quer- und längsschnittlicher Analysen werden spezifische Vergleiche zwischen den Rechtschreibleistungen von 236 Schülern italienischer und deutscher Herkunft vorgenommen. Die Ergebnisse der Untersuchung präzisieren die empirisch bislang nur lückenhaft dokumentierten Rechtschreiberwerbsverläufe von ein- und zweisprachigen Schülern der Sekundarstufe I. Die Daten geben Auskunft über bestehende Leistungsrückstände der zweisprachigen Schüler und dokumentieren charakteristische Entwicklungsverläufe und Fehlerschwerpunkte. Für die Unterrichtspraxis geben die gewonnenen Erkenntnisse folglich konkrete Hinweise. Aufgezeigt werden nicht nur die Lerninhalte, für die vertiefende Instruktionen und Übungen im Unterricht der Sekundarstufe I nötig sind, sondern ebenfalls die Zeiträume, in denen sich die Schüler sichere Schreibfertigkeiten in den einzelnen orthographischen Problembereichen aneignen.

This Diploma Thesis is concerned with the research on pupils? conception of orthographical questions, importance and relevance to grammatical phenomena and grammatical correctness in current communication used by pupils in secondary schools. The Thesis is divided into three parts. The theoretical part deals with the definition of term ?orthography?, orthographical principles and functions, the importance of orthography and its types. There is also a section in the theoretical part which is concerned with the main tendencies and the newest approaches to orthography in secondary schools. In this part attention is focused on history of orthography, orthographical limitations and analysis of mistakes in current school, further the influence of computer on spelling and its educational usage, types of orthographical exercises, its correction and marking. It also contains a cross-section of orthographical questions in the Slovak Republic and foreigners? spelling problems. The practical part deals with the analysis of theoretical curriculum converted into practical tasks. There are also the most frequent mistakes and pupils? attitude to orthography education in this part, which we got on the basis of questionnaire evaluation. In the third part, which is also practical, there are some methods for pupils? motivation which should help to raise the efficiency of orthography education in secondary schools.

Die Dissertation untersucht die Entwicklung der Rechtschreibfertigkeiten von Schülern mit Deutsch als Zweitsprache im Vergleich zu ihren Mitschülern mit Deutsch als Muttersprache in der Sekundarstufe I. Kern der Untersuchung bildet die Methode der Fehleranalyse. Mittels quer- und längsschnittlicher Analysen werden spezifische Vergleiche zwischen den Rechtschreibleistungen von 236 Schülern italienischer und deutscher Herkunft vorgenommen. Die Ergebnisse der Untersuchung präzisieren die empirisch bislang nur lückenhaft dokumentierten Rechtschreiberwerbsverläufe von ein- und zweisprachigen Schülern der Sekundarstufe I. Die Daten geben Auskunft über bestehende Leistungsrückstände der zweisprachigen Schüler und dokumentieren charakteristische Entwicklungsverläufe und Fehlerschwerpunkte. Für die Unterrichtspraxis geben die gewonnenen Erkenntnisse folglich konkrete Hinweise. Aufgezeigt werden nicht nur die Lerninhalte, für die vertiefende Instruktionen und Übungen im Unterricht der Sekundarstufe I nötig sind, sondern ebenfalls die Zeiträume, in denen sich die Schüler sichere Schreibfertigkeiten in den einzelnen orthographischen Problembereichen aneignen.