{"id":1130,"date":"2025-08-15T09:19:42","date_gmt":"2025-08-15T09:19:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.visible-language.org\/journal\/?p=1130"},"modified":"2025-08-15T14:31:15","modified_gmt":"2025-08-15T14:31:15","slug":"issue-59-2-the-role-of-text-alignment-on-response-speed-and-accuracy-when-reading-chinese-english-bilingual-traffic-signs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.visible-language.org\/journal\/issue-59-2-the-role-of-text-alignment-on-response-speed-and-accuracy-when-reading-chinese-english-bilingual-traffic-signs\/","title":{"rendered":"The Role of Text Alignment on Response Speed and Accuracy When Reading Chinese-English Bilingual Traffic Signs"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"sitecontainer\">\n<div class=\"pagecontainer\">\n<article class=\"vj-article\">\n<div class=\"articlesidebar\">\n<h5>Issue 59.2<\/h5>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visible-language.org\/journal\/issue-59-2-reflecting-on-the-august-2025-issue-considerations-nowadays-and-implications-for\">Reflecting on the August 2025 Issue \u2014 Considerations Nowadays and Implications For<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visible-language.org\/journal\/issue-59-2-research-led-pluralist-typographic-practices-case-studies-from-south-asia\">Research-Led Pluralist Typographic Practices: Case Studies from South Asia<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visible-language.org\/journal\/issue-59-2-the-role-of-text-alignment-on-response-speed-and-accuracy-when-reading-chinese-english-bilingual-traffic-signs\">The Role of Text Alignment on Response Speed and Accuracy When Reading Chinese-English Bilingual Traffic Signs<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visible-language.org\/journal\/issue-59-2-breaking-images-a-method-for-improving-design-students-visual-literacy\">Breaking Images: A Method for Improving Design Students\u2019 Visual Literacy<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visible-language.org\/journal\/issue-59-2-addressing-uncertainty-in-llm-outputs-for-trust-calibration-through-visualization-and-user-interface-design\">Addressing Uncertainty in LLM Outputs for Trust Calibration Through Visualization and User Interface Design<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visible-language.org\/journal\/issue-59-2-dfi-a-seat-at-the-table-designing-for-ai-with-strategy-vision-and-collaboration\">A Seat at the Table: Designing for AI with Strategy, Vision, and Collaboration<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visible-language.org\/journal\/issue-59-2-dfi-the-changing-definition-of-designers-in-the-age-of-generative-ai\">The Changing Definition of Designers in the Age of Generative AI<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visible-language.org\/journal\/issue-59-2-dfi-the-human-touchpoint-recommendations-for-thoughtful-ai-feature-design\">The Human Touch(point): Recommendations for Thoughtful AI Feature Design<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visible-language.org\/Issue-59-2\/Visible-Language-59-2.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">Download Issue 59.2 \u27a4<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"articlecontent\">\n<h1>The Role of Text Alignment on Response Speed and Accuracy When Reading Chinese-English Bilingual Traffic Signs<\/h1>\n<h3>Yuchan Zhang, Jeanne-Louise Moys, and Matthew Lickiss <\/h3>\n<h4 style=\"line-height: 1.5;\">School of Design, University of Leeds, UK<br \/>Corresponding author: Yuchan Zhang (Y.Zhang15[at]leeds.ac.uk)<\/h4>\n<div class=\"abstractbox\">\n<p><span class=\"smallblueheading\">Abstract:<\/span> This paper discusses the effect of text alignment on Chinese-English bilingual traffic signs on the speed and accuracy of navigational responses. Two text alignment conditions (centered and left settings) were tested in relation to sign complexity and the separating spacing between place names. Video materials were used to provide a safe way to simulate how and where road signs may appear in a driving scenario, while efficiently testing many variations. A total of 36 participants who read English but not Chinese engaged in this study. The results suggest that left alignment improves speed and accuracy in making decisions when responding to three-directional signs with narrower separating spacing, whereas centered alignment may be beneficial for one-and two-directional signs. These findings highlight the value of including text alignment specification in guidance for bilingual signage, especially when accounting for sign complexity. However, further studies are needed using methods with a higher ecological validity and a broader range of participants before robust recommendations can be devised.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"smallblueheading\">Implications for practice:<\/span> This study underscores the need for more nuanced typographic guidance in the design of Chinese-English bilingual road signs. The findings highlight the importance of accounting for the complex interactions between typographic and spatial attributes in sign composition for drivers to make quick and accurate decisions. In particular, practitioners and policymakers should specify text alignment, as it impacts drivers\u2019 speed and accuracy in navigation. These insights contribute to the development of safer and more efficient road navigation systems.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"keywordsbox\">\n<p><span class=\"smallblueheading\">Keywords:<\/span> bilingual typography; Chinese-English road signs; sign legibility; text alignment; text spacing<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a class=\"viewarticlebtn\" href=\"https:\/\/www.visible-language.org\/Issue-59-2\/the-role-of-text-alignment-on-response-speed-and-accuracy-when-reading-chinese-english-bilingual-traffic-signs.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">Download PDF<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"articlepdfviewer\">\n<object data=\"https:\/\/www.visible-language.org\/Issue-59-2\/the-role-of-text-alignment-on-response-speed-and-accuracy-when-reading-chinese-english-bilingual-traffic-signs.pdf\" type=\"application\/pdf\" width=\"100%\" height=\"100%\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visible-language.org\/Issue-59-2\/the-role-of-text-alignment-on-response-speed-and-accuracy-when-reading-chinese-english-bilingual-traffic-signs.pdf\" width=\"100%\" height=\"100%\" style=\"border: none;\"><br \/>\n<\/iframe><\/object>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"authorbox\">\n<p><span class=\"smallblueheading\">Authors<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Yuchan Zhang<\/strong> Ph.D., is a lecturer in Graphic, Digital, and Communication Design at the School of Design, University of Leeds. She also serves as the Deputy Programme Leader of MA Design. Her research focuses on understanding how multilingual information can enhance the quality of the mobility experience in environments characterised by linguistic diversity. Additionally, her research explores the role of digital technologies, such as augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR), in meeting users\u2019 physical and psychological needs during wayfinding processes.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Jeanne-Louise Moys<\/strong> Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the University of Leeds, School of Design. She is also the School Director of Postgraduate Research Studies. Her research typically engages with both themes of culture, identity and inclusion in design and human-centered design projects linked to typography and information design. Her pedagogic research profile, demonstrates a particular interest in partnerships and inclusion. She is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and a UK Council for Graduate Education recognised research supervisor.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Matthew Lickiss<\/strong> Ph.D., is Associate Professor (Graphic and Communication Design) at the School of Design, University of Leeds. His recent research and teaching centre on user centred information design, user experience, and design for communicating risk and uncertainty. He is particularly interested in how differing presentations of information using graphical means can elicit different decisions from users. Prior to this, his studies were focused on multimodal document theory, exploring how meaning changes or remains the same as the delivery of documents changes.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a class=\"viewarticlebtn\" href=\"https:\/\/www.visible-language.org\/Issue-59-2\/the-role-of-text-alignment-on-response-speed-and-accuracy-when-reading-chinese-english-bilingual-traffic-signs.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">Download PDF<\/a><br \/>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"articlecitebox\">\n<div>\n<p class=\"blueurllink\">DOI being generated<\/p>\n<p><strong>Cite this article:<\/strong><br \/>Zhang, Y., Moys, J.-L., &#038; Lickiss, M. (2025). The role of text alignment on response speed and accuracy when reading Chinese-English bilingual traffic signs. Visible Language, 59(2), 130\u2013152. https:\/\/www.visible-language.org\/journal\/issue-59-2-the-role-of-text-alignment-on-response-speed-and-accuracy-when-reading-chinese-english-bilingual-traffic-signs<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>First published online August 15, 2025. \u00a9 2025 Visible Language \u2014 this article is open access, published under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 license.<\/p>\n<p><pre>https:\/\/www.visible-language.org\/journal<\/pre>\n<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"vlconsortiumheading\"><strong>Visible Language Consortium:<\/strong><\/span><br \/>University of Leeds (UK)<br \/>University of Cincinnati (USA)<br \/>North Carolina State University (USA)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Issue 59.2 Reflecting on the August 2025 Issue \u2014 Considerations Nowadays and Implications For Research-Led Pluralist Typographic Practices: Case Studies from South Asia The Role of Text Alignment on Response Speed and Accuracy When Reading Chinese-English Bilingual Traffic Signs Breaking Images: A Method for Improving Design Students\u2019 Visual Literacy Addressing Uncertainty in LLM Outputs for &hellip; <\/p>\n<p class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visible-language.org\/journal\/issue-59-2-the-role-of-text-alignment-on-response-speed-and-accuracy-when-reading-chinese-english-bilingual-traffic-signs\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;The Role of Text Alignment on Response Speed and Accuracy When Reading Chinese-English Bilingual Traffic Signs&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1130","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-issue-59-2","category-research-article","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visible-language.org\/journal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1130","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visible-language.org\/journal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visible-language.org\/journal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visible-language.org\/journal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visible-language.org\/journal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1130"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.visible-language.org\/journal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1130\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1177,"href":"https:\/\/www.visible-language.org\/journal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1130\/revisions\/1177"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visible-language.org\/journal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1130"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visible-language.org\/journal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1130"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visible-language.org\/journal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1130"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}