Cognitive Science From the Perspective of Linguistic Diversity.

This letter addresses two issues in language research that are important to cognitive science: the comparability of word meanings across languages and the neglect of an integrated approach to writing systems. The first issue challenges generativist claims by emphasizing the importance of comparability of data, drawing on typologists' findings about different languages. The second issue addresses the exclusion of diverse writing systems from linguistic investigation and argues for a more extensive study of their effects on language and cognition. We argue for a refocusing of cognitive science research on linguistic diversity in all modalities to develop the most robust understanding of language and its role in human cognition more broadly.

Disambiguating Effects of Syllable Position and Neighborhood Size: Contributions of Hanja During Sino-Korean Processing.

A language's writing system offers a complex lens through which to explore its lexicon. Korean's bi-scriptal lexicon comprising its native script Hangul and Chinese Hanja, enables a unique window into what is and is not permissible in the language, as well as a chance to investigate how properties of the written form are reflected in the mental representation of the language. Through a novel priming paradigm, we investigated the effects of Hanja on visual word recognition in Hangul. In particular, we examined the effects of neighborhood size and syllable position of individual Sino-Korean morphemes. Although Hangul is the primary script, literate native Korean speakers are sensitive to the effects of Hanja; they are confronted with a lexicon written primarily in one (Hangul), but deeply influenced by another that is much less visible and commonly used (Hanja). We show that the contributions of Hanja are simply part and parcel of Sino-Korean lexical processing despite the asymmetry in use.

CuInS2 Photocathodes with Atomic Gradation-Controlled (Ta,Mo)x(O,S)y Passivation Layers for Efficient Photoelectrochemical H2 Production.

An atomic gradient passivation layer, (Ta,Mo)x(O,S)y, is designed to improve the charge transportation and photoelectrochemical activity of CuInS2-based photoelectrodes. We found that Mo spontaneously diffused to the a-TaOx layer during e-beam evaporation. This result indicates that the gradient profile of MoOx/TaOx is formed in the sublayer of (Ta,Mo)x(O,S)y. To understand the atomic-gradation effects of the (Ta,Mo)x(O,S)y passive layer, the composition and (photo)electrochemical properties have been characterized in detail. When this atomic gradient-passive layer is applied to CuInS2-based photocathodes, promising photocurrent and onset potential are seen without using Pt cocatalysts. This is one of the highest activities among reported CuInS2 photocathodes, which are not combined with noble metal cocatalysts. Excellent photoelectrochemical activity of the photoelectrode can be mainly achieved by (1) the electron transient time improved due to the conductive Mo-incorporated TaOx layer and (2) the boosted electrocatalytic activity by Mox(O,S)y formation.

Photoelectrochemical CO2 Reduction with a Rhenium Organometallic Redox Mediator at Semiconductor/Aqueous Liquid Junction Interfaces.

Electrochemical and photoelectrochemical CO2 reductions were carried out with Re(bh-bipy)(CO)3 (OH2 ) cocatalysts in aqueous electrolytes. Competition between hydrogen evolution and CO2 reduction was observed under (photo)electrochemical conditions for both glassy carbon and CuInS2 electrodes. The partial current density for CO generation is limited even though the additional potential is applied. However, electrochemical hydrogen evolution was suppressed under photoelectrochemical conditions, and the selectivity and partial current density for CO were considerably increased when compared to the electrochemical reduction in an identical electrode/electrolyte system. This finding may provide insights into using semiconductor/liquid junctions for solar fuel devices to overcome the limitations of electrolysis systems with an external bias.