The Linguistics Journal: Volume 1, Number 3

stimuli were rotated so that each target-prime pair appeared in each translation
condition.

The pseudo-words were constructed to mimic the words. The 192 targets were
based on MSA. Among the primes, 96 were based on Hebrew and 96 on SA. Within
each language group 32 primes shared a pseudo-morpheme with their paired target, 64
did not. Of course, for pseudo-words there could be no further division of the
non-cognate primes. Sixteen cognate pseudo-words pairs were repeated (table 1b).

Table 1: MSA targets and their cognate (a) and non-cognate (b) translations primes in
Spoken Arabic and Hebrew.
a.
Word
Word Target
Gloss
Word Prime Word Target
Gloss
Prime
Words in
Spoken
Arabic

Words in MS
Arabic

In English

Words in
Hebrew

Song
Machine

Words in MS
Arabic

In
English

key
wire

b.
Word
Prime

Word Target

Gloss

Words in
Spoken
Arabic

Words in MS
Arabic

In English

driver

bicycle

Word Prime
Words in
Hebrew

Word Target

Gloss

Words in MS
Arabic

In
English

fox

room

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Appendix
a.
MS Arabic primes, spoken Arabic and Hebrew non-cognate targets, their rated
frequencies, and their English translations
Primes:
MS
Arabic

Freq

Targets:
Spoken
Arabic

Primes:
MS
Arabic

English

Targets:
Hebrew

Freq English

4.1

easy

3.8

square

3.9

education

4.7

head

3.2

cement

4.2

hair

3.6

woman

4.0

finger

3.9

hot

4.4

donkey

4.3

song

4.8

house

3.6

early

3.8

ant

3.3

pedal

4.8

ask

3.6

vally

4.4

officer

3.7

sofa

4.3

peace

3.3

appear

3.9

garbage

3.4

convince

4.7

world

4.6

circle

4.7

eat

3.2

stove

3.6

rope

4.5

fritter

4.1

well

3.5

mirror

3.6

letter

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The Linguistics Journal: Volume 1, Number 3

wind

4.6

kidney

3.3

church

3.8

machine

3.3

mosque

3.2

pride

3.6

piper

3.56

hundred

4.7

wolf

3.6

player

4.1

miserable

4.3

relax

3.4

fast

4.8

iron

3.3

wire

3.9

community

4.9

tounge

4.0

married

4.4

petrol

3.7

twin

4.0

carpenter

3.8

threat

4.7

key

4.8

clap

3.3

flash

4.4

glue

3.3

ship

3.7

fly

4.6

abdomen

4.9

complain

3.9

cows

3.8

smoke

4.0

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The Linguistics Journal: Volume 1, Number 3

b. MS Arabic primes, spoken Arabic and Hebrew non-cognate targets, their rated
frequencies, and their English translations
Primes:
MS
Arabic

Freq

Targets:
Spoken
Arabic

English

Primes:
MS
Arabic

Targets:
Hebrew

Freq

English

3.8

refrigerator

3.9

rifle

3.0

good

4.3

frame

5.0

train

4.3

oven

3.5

donkey

4.3

bicycle

4.2

snake

4.2

hat

3.4

turtle

4.4

fox

4.8

pharmacy

4.4

pump

4.5

little

3.8

brake

4.6

balcony

3.0

dare

4.3

straight

3.0

material

5.2

want

3.8

attack

4.4

free

3.9

herd

3.1

appetite

4.0

burn

4.8

hotel

4.0

fun

4.7

meal

3.9

can

4.4

bored

3.6

guts

4.8

begin

4.3

sheet

4.7

those

4.1

box

4.1

maiden

3.4

apathetic

3.2

powder

4.5

cough

3.8

fold

4.6

wake

3.7

curtain

4.5

paramedic

4.0

jacket

4.2

room

3.8

man

5.0

melon

4.7

matches

3.3

shameful

4.6

glad

3.3

person

3.3

kick

4.6

outside

5.3

towel

3.0

pipe

4.7

driver

3.7

shoes

3.4

funeral

3.3

fist

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4.3

tomorrow

4.4

fat

4.9

socks

3.5

crazy

Notes
1

Note that, according to this definition, cognate words do not necessarily have an
identical phonological (and/or orthographic) structure (cf. De Bot, Cox, Ralston,
Schaufeli, & Weltens, 1995).

The lifestyle, language, and social norms of the Druze are similar to those of their
Arab neighbors. Although both groups are characterized by strong native language
cohesion, they differ in their identification with the majority (Jewish) group. Based on
a historical alliance with the Jewish people, the Israeli Druze have a close contact with
the Israeli society on the one hand, and close ties and identification with Arab culture
and language on the other hand (Abu-Rabia, 1996; Seginer & Halabi-Kheir, 1998)
3

The auditory presentation was required because, by definition, SA has no written form.
Furthermore, the Hebrew and Arabic orthography differ in form and complexity.

96