What type of word is involved in the task of pseudoword decoding?

Pseudoword decoding is a process that involves interpreting and reading words that do not have established meanings in a language; these are often referred to as nonsense words. This task is designed to assess a reader's ability to apply phonetic skills and understand the rules of spelling and pronunciation without relying on prior knowledge of the words' meanings.

When decoding pseudowords, individuals use their understanding of letter-sound relationships and syllable structure to accurately pronounce these unfamiliar sequences. The primary focus is on the application of phonetic and structural decoding skills rather than comprehension, as the words themselves do not exist in the lexicon of the language being tested.

Other word types mentioned, such as common, technical, and complex words, have established meanings and may require different cognitive processes, including retrieval of vocabulary knowledge and context-based understanding, rather than solely relying on decoding skills.