Abstract: The difference of the word frequency in visual and auditory experience was discussed. Two experiments explored the character of the auditory word frequency in the pure modality. Experiment 1,40 two-character words of Chinese were obtained through 5-point scaling, which kept the visual word frequency equal, but the auditory one different. Experiment 2, memory test was carried on by making use of the two-character words. Experimental dissociation was found between free recall,recognition, and identification of degraded word in the auditory condition.

Key words: auditory word frequency, pure-modality, memory test