What does that mean for language learning? Well, if reading is like seeing a movie, you certainly must absorb a huge number of new word- images, and as with listening, some segmenting is needed. Take the word parachlorophenylalanine. For scientists with a basic knowledge in chemistry, the meaning and pronunciation of the word is as evident as the meaning and pronunciation of love and peace. Meanwhile, non- scientists will return to first-grade spelling techniques and ask themselves where the syllables start and where they end. Every language has thousands of these complicated words. .
