Abstract
The cognitive models of internal language processing in the brain are fundamental areas in cognitive informatics. Neuropsychology is a useful method which effectively reveals the mechanisms of the knowledge representation of natural intelligence. Because reading is a basic intelligence processing, a model based on neuropsychological research may explain the fundamental mechanism of the reading process from clinical aspect. This article presents a novel cognitive model to explain the process of reading Chinese characters. A study of a Chinese patient with surface dyslexia indicates that there are two distinctive pathways in reading Chinese characters. And the whole process of reading Chinese characters is a nested process. The model that explains the mechanisms of reading process in the brain is described, and the physical and physiological meanings of this model are explained. In summary, this new novel model can be employed to contribute for reading model development of artificial intelligence.