Nonsense Kana words as verbal stimuli and Hangul words (Korean orthographic characters) as non-verbal were presented tachistoscopically in the left or right visual field to normal right-handed, non-familial left-handed Japanese subjects, who have not seen Hangul characters. Right-handers showed a significant right (or left) field superiority for the recognition of verbal (or non-verbal) stimuli. This pattern of differences found in right-handers is, though to a slightly lesser degree, also present in non-familial left-handers, while it is absent in familial left-handers. Initial left field superiority for Hangul word recognition shifted to no laterality difference in left-handers as well as in right-handers during the learning period for Hangul words.