The buy-one-get-(almost)-one-free effect of learning traditional or simplified Chinese characters

Abstract

A set of simplified Chinese characters (k = 995) and their traditional counterparts were presented to habitual traditional and simplified Chinese users, respectively, for recognition. The results showed an accuracy rate of at least 85% in the recognition of simplified characters by traditional Chinese users and in the recognition of traditional characters by simplified Chinese users. Additionally, it took the traditional Chinese users about 2.4 rounds of exposure to correct answers to learn and correctly identify all the simplified characters; it took the simplified Chinese users about 1.8 rounds to learn the traditional ones to the same effect. The results indicate that once the learners have mastered one script, the substantial overlaps between the two, along with a simple feedback for learning, enable the learners to make sense of the other easily. The buy-one-get-(almost)-one-free effect serves to encourage learners of Chinese to pursue bi-script literacy, a realistic and pragmatic goal.