Lexical quality and executive control predict children’s first and second language reading comprehension

This study compared how lexical quality (vocabulary and decoding) and executive control (working memory and inhibition) predict reading comprehension directly as well as indirectly, via syntactic integration, in monolingual and bilingual fourth grade children. The participants were 76 monolingual and 102 bilingual children (mean age 10 years, SD = 5 months) learning to read Dutch in the Netherlands. Bilingual children showed lower Dutch vocabulary, syntactic integration and reading comprehension skills, but better decoding skills than their monolingual peers. There were no differences in working memory or inhibition. Multigroup path analysis showed relatively invariant connections between predictors and reading comprehension for monolingual and bilingual readers. For both groups, there was a direct effect of lexical quality on reading comprehension. In addition, lexical quality and executive control indirectly influenced reading comprehension via syntactic integration. The groups differed in that inhibition more strongly predicted syntactic integration for bilingual than for monolingual children. For a subgroup of bilingual children, for whom home language vocabulary data were available (n = 56), there was an additional positive effect of home language vocabulary on second language reading comprehension. Together, the results suggest that similar processes underlie reading comprehension in first and second language readers, but that syntactic integration requires more executive control in second language reading. Moreover, bilingual readers additionally benefit from first language vocabulary to arrive at second language reading comprehension.     

Differential lexical predictors of reading comprehension in fourth graders

The mental lexicon plays a central role in reading comprehension (Perfetti & Stafura, 2014). It encompasses the number of lexical entries in spoken and written language (vocabulary breadth), the semantic quality of these entries (vocabulary depth), and the connection strength between lexical representations (semantic relatedness); as such, it serves as an output for the decoding process and as an input for comprehension processes. Although different aspects of the lexicon can be distinguished, research on the role of the mental lexicon in reading comprehension often does not take these individual aspects of the lexicon into account. The current study used a multicomponent approach to examine whether measures of spoken and written vocabulary breadth, vocabulary depth, and semantic relatedness were differentially predictive of individual differences in reading comprehension skills in fourth-grade students. The results indicated that, in addition to nonverbal reasoning, short-term memory, and word decoding, the four measures of lexical quality substantially added (30 %) to the proportion of explained variance of reading comprehension (adding up to a total proportion of 65 %). Moreover, each individual measure of lexical quality added significantly to the prediction of reading comprehension after all other measures were taken into account, with written lexical breadth and lexical depth showing the greatest increase in explained variance. It can thus be concluded that multiple components of lexical quality play a role in children’s reading comprehension.     

The Lexical Approach语境中的词汇

传统观念中 ,英语词汇是单词的简单累加 ,而词汇法认为词汇是许许多多“词块”的集合 ,它们分布在一个具有生成力的连续体上。词汇法语境中的词汇再定义突出了语言的词汇性特征 ,对外语教学有如下启示 :外语教师应当重新审视语言习得的本质 ;应当把“板块”当成词汇的最小单位来教与学 ;词汇应放到具体语境中学习     

Contributions of word-level and verbal skills to written expression: comparison of learners who speak English as a first (L1) and second language (L2)

The study investigated the role of word-level and verbal skills in writing quality of learners who spoke English as a first (L1) and second (L2) language. One hundred and sixty-eight L1 and L2 learners (M = 115.38 months, SD = 3.57 months) participated in the study. All testing was conducted in English. There was a statistically significant L1 advantage on the measures of writing quality and verbal skills (i.e., vocabulary, verbal working memory, and semantic fluency) but not on word-level skills (i.e., spelling and word reading). Results from the multi-sample structural equation modeling analysis showed that the word-level and verbal skills made independent contributions to writing quality of L1 and L2 learners and the strength of these relationships was invariant (equivalent) across the two samples. The educational implications of research on L2 learners who are learning to write in a majority language were discussed.     

词块框架下的外语教学

词汇是语言的基础,是外语学习和教学的基本要素。用Lewis的词汇观重新审视语言,讨论词、词汇、词库和词块所表征的语言意义,探析词汇法对外语教学的启示。     

范畴化理论与英汉语义场释义对比研究

范畴化理论和语义场理论对研究英汉词汇有重要指导作用。本文通过对英汉语义场释义对比研究,加强对每一个词汇系统的完整认识,进而对整个语言体系有更完善的认知。此外,语义场理论用于指导英语词汇教学有启发意义。     

The contribution of vocabulary knowledge and spelling to the reading comprehension of adolescents who are and are not English language learners

This study examined the contributions of vocabulary and spelling to the reading comprehension of students in grades 6–10 who were and were not classified as English language learners. Results indicate that vocabulary accounted for greater between-grade differences and unique variance (ΔR ² = .11–.31) in comprehension as compared to spelling (ΔR ² = .01–.09). However, the contribution of spelling to comprehension was higher in the upper grade levels included in this cross-sectional analysis and functioned as a mediator of the impact of vocabulary knowledge at all levels. The direct effect of vocabulary was strong but lower in magnitude at each successive grade level from .58 in grade 6 to .41 in grade 10 while the indirect effect through spelling increased in magnitude at each successive grade level from .09 in grade 6 to .16 in grade 10. There were no significant differences between the language groups in the magnitude of the indirect impact, suggesting both groups of students relied more on both sources of lexical information in higher grades as compared to students in lower grades.     

Using new vocabulary in writing: Exploring how word and learner characteristics relate to the likelihood that writers use newly taught vocabulary

Understanding academic vocabulary is essential to student success in school. Use of academic vocabulary words in writing is considered one of the strongest measures of how well a reader understands a given word. In theory, willingness to use academic vocabulary in writing indicates the complexity of acquiring representations of the word’s orthography, phonology, and semantics based on the word’s characteristics. In addition, a learner’s overall literacy skills should relate to whether they attempt to use words. In the present study, sixth graders (n = 66), seventh graders (n = 60), and eighth graders (n = 41) learned 25 academic vocabulary words in a supplementary academic vocabulary intervention and were then asked to use those words in short persuasive essay drafts. We measured whether these students attempted to use a word (a binary uses outcome) and the number of times a student used a word (a continuous attempts outcome) and used cross-classified random effects models to examine how (a) the orthographic, phonological, and semantic characteristics of words and (b) the students’ literacy-related characteristics related to their uses and attempts. For word characteristics, students were more likely to use and attempt high frequency than low frequency words. For student characteristics, students proficient on the state exam were more likely to use and attempt the words, and students learning English were less likely to attempt the words. Implications for vocabulary intervention and writing instruction are discussed.     

词块与商务英语翻译

上世纪后期的词块理论打破了传统的将语言二分为词汇和句法的认识,认为固定和半固定词块构成了语言的主体。本文认为,掌握大量商务英语词块可以增强商务英语翻译的专业性、得体性和实效性。     

Considering linguistic and orthographic features in early literacy acquisition: Evidence from Korean

This study investigated (1) the role of syllable awareness in word reading and spelling after accounting for the effects of print-related skills (letter-name and letter-sound knowledge, and rapid serial naming), and (2) unique contributions of orthographic, semantic (vocabulary and morphological awareness), phonological, and print-related predictors to word reading and spelling for 4- and 5-year old Korean-speaking children (N = 168). Syllable awareness was found to be positively related to word reading and spelling after accounting for print-related skills and phoneme awareness. Letter-name knowledge and orthographic awareness were uniquely related to word reading and spelling after accounting for other language and literacy-related skills. In addition, phoneme awareness was uniquely related to spelling whereas rapid serial naming was uniquely related to word reading, after accounting for other language and literacy-related skills. Semantic knowledge such as vocabulary and morphological awareness were not related to either word reading or spelling after accounting for other language and literacy-related skills. Word reading and spelling remained uniquely and positively related to each other. These findings are discussed in light of crosslinguistic variation in early literacy acquisition.     

词汇语义学和第二语言词汇习得的图式化研究

第二语言习得(second language acquisition)是一种复杂的心理认知过程,而词汇习得(vocabulary acquisition)又是语言学习中的一个重要环节。因为,词汇是音、义、形的结合,是语音、意义和语法三者统一的整体。词汇语义学是专门研究语言词汇意义的一门学科,应用其有关原理探索英语词汇的习得方法可最大限度地改善和强化学习者语言学习过程中的词汇输入量,对推动英语学习将有积极的意义。从语义方面开展词汇习得,符合学习者掌握和学习词汇的感知及心理认知过程,有助于扩充和记忆词汇。本文通过对词汇的语义特征、语义级差、语义网络和命题串联等意义关系的图式化分析来探索英语词汇习得的方法。     

词汇衔接理论在大学英语词汇教学中的应用

词汇习得是语言技能赖以生存和发展的基础。然而传统大学英语词汇教学模式在一定程度上制约着学生英语实际应用能力的培养和提高。通过对词汇衔接理论的研究,从词汇复现和词汇共现两个方面探索新的英语词汇教学模式,可以使英语词汇教学进入篇章层次,让学生学会从篇章的角度去重新认识词汇的选择和组织在语言使用中的作用,从而促进其词汇习得和语言发展。     

Turkish‐speaking First Graders in Norway Acquiring Second Language Vocabulary,Listening Comprehension and Literacy Skills

This study explored relationships between characteristics of classroom talk exposure and immigrant first graders' acquisition of second language oral skills (vocabulary and listening comprehension) and literacy skills. Twenty‐six children (mean age = 6.10 years) with Turkish as their first language and Norwegian as their second, attending various multilingual and ethnically diverse classrooms in Norway, were videotaped during classroom conversations. Classroom talk was coded for vocabulary richness, discursive complexity and emergent phonics talk and the children's oral language and literacy skills were assessed. Classroom vocabulary richness and discursive complexity predicted the children's second language vocabulary skills and listening comprehension after controlling for maternal education, but did not predict their literacy skills. The density of emergent phonics talk did not predict target children's code‐related skills in this sample. Applied perspectives related to second language learning in multiparty settings are discussed.     

试论词汇系统的语义性本质

词汇系统论争的症结，不在于争论系统的有无，而在于系统的如何建构。如要建构这一系统，首先是对“词汇系统”性质的界定，其次是对“词汇系统”表达的规划。人类基于范畴化和图式化以认知对象世界，在意识中形成的层次性概念系统，在语言中表现为层次性词汇系统。所谓词汇的系统性就是词汇语义的系统性，所谓词汇系统也就是基于义征分析和义场建构的词汇语义系统。词汇系统的建构，要在大批词语的义征分析基础上才能够逐步实现。     

Application of a lexical-semantic intervention programme for students with Specific Language Impairment / Aplicación de un programa de intervención léxico-semántica en alumnado con Trastorno Específico del Lenguaje

The aim of this research has been to test the efficacy of an intervention programme on lexical-semantic problems in children with Specific Language Impairment (SLI). The sample consisted of 34 children diagnosed with SLI and 34 children with typical language development, all enrolled in different schools on the island of Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain). For the selection of the sample, CELF-3, Peabody, ITPA Auditory Association and Visual Association subtests and the K-BIT IQ tests were used. The intervention programme consisted of 72 sessions of 30 minutes each, using noun and action naming activities along with conversation and categorization tasks in order to increase vocabulary and improve lexical semantic competence. Significant results were achieved in aspects related to the acquisition of vocabulary as well as in lexical semantics or related terms. The educational implications are clear insofar as lexical-semantic aspects are key in terms of activating other linguistic components and in improving the academic progress of SLI students.     

外语词汇磨蚀的回归性分析

在语言磨蚀 30 多年的研究历程中,雅柯布逊回归假设的验证一直是该领域的研究热点之一。然而, 通过实证研究验证且符合雅柯布逊回归假设预期的目标成分,均局限于词法和句法, 并不包含词汇。为此, 本文针对 116 名中国大学毕业生,采用接受性词汇测量方法, 分析了外语词汇学习和磨蚀的动态过程, 从理论上阐释了动态过程的特点。所得基本结论如下: ( 1) 外语词汇与词法和句法等一样,在磨蚀过程中均表现出明显的回归性,符合雅柯布逊回归假设的预期; ( 2) 外语词汇磨蚀的回归性表现为“先学习的外语词汇, 后磨蚀” ; ( 3) 以“BIA-d 模型” 为核心的“外语词汇学习与磨蚀的理论模型” ,既可用于外语词汇学习过程的分析,也可用于磨蚀回归性的阐释。     

汉语VO三字格熟语结构语义特点及修辞功能分析

熟语是语言中能独立运用的词汇单位,由习用的词固定组合而成。熟语与现代生活密切相关,既有一定的固定格式,使用时结构简单灵活,又有丰富的修辞信息。现代汉语中有一种通常以"动词+宾语"(VO)格式出现的三字格熟语,掌握其特殊结构语义特点以及修辞信息是提高言语交际效果的重要途径。     

Evaluating the role of polysemous word knowledge in reading comprehension among bilingual adolescents

This study reports on the development of an assessment to measure bilingual adolescents’ knowledge of polysemous vocabulary and explores the contribution of polysemous word knowledge to reading comprehension among those students. Spanish–English bilingual students in seventh grade (n = 107) completed a battery of standardized reading and language measures along with a researcher-designed measure of their knowledge of the academic senses of words that also have casual, everyday meanings. Item-response theory analyses and correlational analyses provided validity evidence for the assessment. Regression analyses indicated that students’ knowledge of academic senses of polysemous words predicted their reading comprehension, even after controlling for their knowledge of the casual sense of the same words, vocabulary breadth, and decoding skills. Findings suggest that comprehension of grade-level texts is uniquely predicted by the ability to recognize the meanings of familiar words when they appear in academic contexts.     

论语义场理论在俄语词汇习得中的运用

语义场理论是语义学研究的一个重要内容,常被用于分析词汇系统的结构,是结构主义语义学家对词汇聚合系统结构分析最具有影响力的方法。处于同一个语义场内的词汇,其意义是相互关联、相互制约的。运用语义场理论来构建词汇语义网络、扩大词汇量、促进俄语词汇的习得是一种行之有效的方法。     

Helping students with cognitive disabilities improve social writing skills through email modeling and scaffolding

The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of email modeling and scaffolding on the social writing quality of students with cognitive disabilities. Ten students from a university-affiliated lab school (mean age = 19.3; SD = 1.2) with an average of IQ of 55.30 (SD = 5.98) and 10 teacher candidates in a university teacher education programme participated in the study. The results suggest that all students with intellectual disabilities were able to holistically improve their social writing quality after exchanging emails with mature writers over a period of 15 weeks. Specifically, the students progressively showed various degrees of improvement in the areas of writing mechanics, lexical and syntactic complexity, writing cohesion, pragmatic propriety and writing motivation. However, the figurative use of language remained unaffected by the email modeling and scaffolding. Taken together, this study suggests that Internet-mediated formats, such as email, can reduce the anxiety of students with intellectual disabilities. Students feel more motivated to engage in writing and do so more actively in social media exchanges, thus improving their virtual social communication skills through writing. Teaching implications of this study are discussed.