词法和句法复杂性对于阅读准确性和速度的影响_英语论文

The Effects of Syntactic and Lexical Complexity on Reading Comprehension Tests

摘要

英语作为高考的必考科目，一直深受教育者的重视。其中阅读理解在英语测试中更是占据了重要地位，重视阅读能力的培养在《全日制普通高级中学英语教学大纲（试验修订版）》中有非常明确的标识。近几年来，国内外对阅读理解能力的研究有了很大的发展，尤其是在探究整个阅读理解过程，阅读理解的影响因素和阅读模式方面。本文主要探讨阅读材料中词法和句法的复杂性对阅读的准确性和速度产生的影响。针对此课题，通过梳理国内外关于词法句法复杂度的文献，测量所选文本的词法句法复杂度，测试学生的阅读理解能力，以此探究词法和句法复杂性对阅读准确性和阅读速度的影响。研究表明，词法、句法复杂度与阅读的准确性和速度均成负相关。最后，在借鉴国内外英语阅读教学理论的基础上，总结提高英语阅读理解能力的方法。希望本课题的研究能在一定程度上对英语阅读教学产生启发，改善英语阅读教学，提高教学效率。

关键词：词法和句法复杂性；阅读准确性和速度；阅读理解测试；英语阅读教学

Abstract

English test, as a compulsory subject in National Matriculation Test, is definitely important, of which, reading comprehension part plays an outstanding role and counts for a large proportion. Syllabus also emphasizes on improving reading comprehension ability. In recent years, study on reading comprehension ability at home and abroad has made great achievements, particularly on the aspects of the whole reading comprehension process, influencing factors and reading modes. This paper mainly discusses the effects of syntactic and lexical complexity on reading accuracy and speed, by measuring syntactic and lexical complexity of four passages and doing some research on students’ reading comprehension ability. What’s more, on the basis of domestic and international theories of English teaching, this paper is intended to summarize the methods of improving English reading comprehension ability. Finally, it is hoped that the research on this subject is able to have some positive influence on the English reading comprehension teaching.

Key words: syntactic and lexical complexity; reading accuracy and speed; reading comprehension tests 

Contents

Introduction ·····················································································1

1. Literature Review··········································································1

  1.1 Complexity ·········································································2

  1.2 Syntactic Complexity····································································2

     1.2.1 Definition of Syntactic Complexity·············································3

     1.2.2 Studies on Syntactic Complexity··············································3     

     1.2.3 Measurement of Syntactic Complexity·········································4

         1.2.2.1 Complexity Measures based on T-unit··································4

         1.2.2.2 Complexity Measures based on Clause·································5

  1.3 Lexical Complexity······································································5

     1.3.1 Definition of Lexical Complexity···············································5

     1.3.2 Measurement of Lexical Complexity···········································6

  1.4 Complexity and Reading································································6

2. Methodology············································································6

  2.1 Research Questions·······································································7

  2.2 Research Sources·······································································7

     2.2.1 Research Object ·································································· 7

     2.2.2 Reading Material·································································· 7   

  2.3 Approaches to Materials·································································8

3. Data Analysis and Discussion·····························································9

  3.1 Syntactic and Lexical Complexity Analysis of Reading Comprehension Tests··9

  3.2 The Effects of Syntactic and Lexical Complexity on Reading Speed············10

  3.3 The Effects of Syntactic and Lexical Complexity on Reading Accuracy········11

4. Strategies to Improve Reading Comprehension Ability···························11

   4.1 Vocabulary Teaching··································································12

   4.2 Syntactic Teaching····································································12

   4.3 Other Methods to Improve Reading Speed and Accuracy·······················13

      4.3.1 Timed Reading··································································13

      4.3.2 Cultivating Good Reading Habits············································13

      4.3.3 Choosing Right Reading Skills···············································13

      4.3.4 Keeping Good Reading Psychology········································14

Conclusion······················································································14

References······················································································16