For normally sighted readers, word neighborhood size (i.e., the total number of words that can be formed from a single word by changing only one letter) has a facilitator effect on word recognition. ...When reading with central field loss (CFL) however, individual letters may not be correctly identified, leading to possible misidentifications and a reverse neighborhood size effect. Here we investigate this inhibitory effect of word neighborhood size on reading performance and whether it is modulated by word predictability and reading proficiency. Nineteen patients with binocular CFL from 32 to 89 years old (mean ± SD = 75 ± 15) read short sentences presented with the self-paced reading paradigm. Accuracy and reading time were measured for each target word read, along with its predictability, i.e., its probability of occurrence following the two preceding words in the sentence using a trigram analysis. Linear mixed effects models were then fit to estimate the individual contributions of word neighborhood size, predictability, frequency and length on accuracy and reading time, while taking patients' reading proficiency into account. For the less proficient readers, who have given up daily reading as a consequence of their visual impairment, we found that the effect of neighborhood size was reversed compared to normally sighted readers and of higher amplitude than the effect of frequency. Furthermore, this inhibitory effect is of greater amplitude (up to 50% decrease in reading speed) when a word is not easily predictable because its chances to occur after the two preceding words in a specific sentence are rather low. Severely impaired patients with CFL often quit reading on a daily basis because this task becomes simply too exhausting. Based on our results, we envision lexical text simplification as a new alternative to promote effective rehabilitation in these patients. By increasing reading accessibility for those who struggle the most, text simplification might be used as an efficient rehabilitation tool and daily reading assistive technology, fostering overall reading ability and fluency through increased practice.
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This article aims to provide an overview of current trends in vocabulary teaching, and to highlight several initiatives taken by the authors for teaching and/or improving French vocabulary for native ...learners (L1), and foreigners (French as second or foreign language, L2). After a cross disciplinary theoretical overview on the notions of ‘lexicon’ and ‘context’ we describe different activities having in common the necessity of considering the context in its broadest sense, that is, from a lexical, textual, discursive, and pragmatic perspective.1. Theoretical frameworkDifferent disciplines have been interested into the question of meaning, going from lexicology, semantics, to semiotics, and philosophy of language. Broadly speaking, the context is considered paramount, as Malinowski or Firth put it, for example through the famous quotation of the latter (arguing against structural linguistics) “you shall know a word by the company it keeps” (Firth, 1957). Taken to an extreme, Polguère (2015) calls it ‘lexical contextualism’, a conception that considers that words do not have meaning in the absolute (isolated): it would be their contexts that would bring it. Other less radical positions, such as the Generative Lexicon (Pustejovsky, 1995), suggest that all words have an original meaning. When polysemic, the different meanings derive by inference from an initial (original) meaning, depending on the usage of a word in a precise context. Contextualism, be it radical or moderated, is linked to the notion of ‘semantic potential’ proposed by Recanati (2004), notion that Polguère (ibid.) illustrates with the image of an unlit light bulb: “we should not argue against the fact that words do not ‘mean’ by themselves. They ‘have a meaning’, i.e. an inherent property that conditions their denotational effect in semiosis but considered by itself, a word is just like an unlit light bulb”. Last, but not least, Bakhtine considers the context in light of a dialogism inherent to the lexicon (kind of polyphony): the word “never refers to a single conscience, a single voice. (…) it is received through the voice of someone else” (Bakhtine, 1929 2001, p. 235‑236).The notion of lexical meaning is at the heart of language learning and it can not be dissociated from the notion of context. As we can see, from contextualism to polyphony, the notion is complex and difficult to grasp. From there, how to facilitate access to meaning while teaching French L1 or L2?2. Pedagogical aspectsTo teach vocabulary (and to facilitate the access to word senses), language teachers can deploy explicit activities, that is specific and systematic exercises on vocabulary (Cellier, 2011). Implicit activities such as oral games, reading aloud, creating mind-maps, etc. to name a few, can also contribute to vocabulary learning. These implicit activities, which vary depending on the learners and on the level of language, have many advantages. A significant number of words are involved in effective classroom communication. In contextualizing them, the teacher can enhance their appropriation (Cellier, 2011). The role of the context is thus paramount. If quantitative approaches are important when learning vocabulary (increasing the lexical stock of the learner), qualitative approaches can not be ignored (Grossmann, 2011). While for a long time, pedagogical practices related to vocabulary have privileged quantitative aspects (word lists are still present in textbooks), a variety of activities are now implemented enabling to develop metalinguistic skills, i.e. getting access to word senses whilst working on contexts. Once again, the role of context is crucial.Recent studies in second language acquisition in general (Meara, 1996; Boulton, 1998) and specifically in French L2 (Cavalla, 2019) show the importance to teach/learn vocabulary in context as to dynamically build a diversified mental lexicon. The point is here to acquire skills and not lexical knowledge (Holec, 1994) to be able to cope with different situations, in comprehension and production.Besides, a variety of activities can be proposed in complement to textbook activities to handle heterogeneous classrooms: getting access to meaning may vary depending on the learner, his/her learning culture, his/her mother tongue (i.e. proximity with the languages already learnt), the languages learnt before, his/her motivation, etc. Insights on translation, cross-comprehension (Caddéo et Jamet, 2013), emotions (Cavalla, 2017), not to mention embodiment (Eshenauer et al., “Encorporer les langues vivantes” article in this issue), may also help memorizing new words and thus vocabulary appropriation. Finally, in communicative approaches for vocabulary teaching in L2, students are encouraged to use language as vehicle of communication and gradually develop their strategies in communication by using authentic texts. Vocabulary comprehension is linked to reflective activities on reading texts in the target language (Riquois, 2020) and on the role of context to infer meaning of unknown words.3. Contents of this articleIn this article, the authors propose different activities set up in French L1 or L2 classrooms, having in common a particular focus on the role of context in the processes of linguistic units’ learning. Following an overview of the domain as regards to its theoretical and educational aspects, we present innovative methods that go beyond more traditional approaches. Being complementary, those different activities are proposed as ‘food for thought’ on the complexity of contextualization for vocabulary appropriation and on the perspectives that contextualization offers on teaching/learning strategies. Considering the above, the authors raise the following question ‘is the process of accessing to meaning (word senses) really different in L1 and L2?’ and, consequently, they invite to rethink the artificial but persistent differentiation between L1 and L2 teaching approaches.
Syntactic transformations to help learning to read : typology, adequacy and adapted corpora. In this paper, we present a typology of syntactic transformations targeted at adapting textual contents ...addressed to poor-readers and dyslexic children. To make this proposition, we have analyzed a set of parallel texts (original and adapted). We have also applied lexical, morpho-syntactic and discursive transformations to corpora usually read at primary school (second to fourth grades). The different versions have been read by different reader profiles at school. Based on both studies, we have defined a typology of syntactic transformations, with deleted, kept or added information, that could be used as guidelines to adapt texts and facilitate reading to children facing difficulties.
Dans cet article, nous présentons une typologie de transformations syntaxiques permettant une adaptation des contenus textuels à destination d'enfants faibles lecteurs et dyslexiques. Pour arriver à cette proposition, nous avons analysé des textes parallèles originaux et adaptés. Nous avons aussi appliqué des transformations lexicales, morpho-syntaxiques et discursives à des corpus habituellement lus entre CE1 et CM1 que nous avons soumis à des enfants dans ces classes, tous profils confondus. Sur la base de ces deux études, nous avons défini une typologie de transformations syntaxiques, avec des informations supprimées, conservées ou ajoutées, qui pourra servir de guide pour adapter des textes et faciliter l'apprentissage de la lecture dans des cas d'enfants en difficulté
Dans cet article, la compréhension en lecture et ses processus sous-jacents d’après le modèle de Construction-Intégration de van Dijk et Kintsch (1983) sont mis en avant afin de réaliser une analyse ...pour deux genres textuels : des textes narratifs et des documentaires explicatifs scientifiques. Afin de compléter cette analyse, une expérimentation a été réalisée avec un échantillon de 138 enfants qui ont lu un corpus de textes narratifs et documentaires scientifiques, originaux et simplifiés, de la deuxième à la quatrième année en élémentaire. Les résultats en vitesse de lecture et en compréhension ont été recueillis dans le but d’identifier les effets de la simplification et notamment en fonction du genre textuel. Au moyen d’une analyse de la variance, nous démontrons que les simplifications manuelles des textes ont permis des gains en vitesse de lecture et en compréhension pour les textes narratifs et les documentaires scientifiques, en soulignant l’intérêt de ce type de travaux sur le plan didactique.
Reading comprehension and fluency are crucial for successful academic learning and achievement. Yet, a rather large percentage of children still have enormous difficulties in understanding a written ...text at the end of primary school. In this context, the aim of our study was to investigate whether text simplification, a process of reducing text complexity while keeping its meaning unchanged, can improve reading fluency and comprehension for children learning to read. Furthermore, we were interested in finding out whether some readers would benefit more than others from text simplification as a function of their cognitive and language profile. To address these issues, we developed an iBook application for iPads, which allowed us to present normal and simplified versions of informative and narrative texts to 165 children in grade 2. Reading fluency was measured for each sentence, and text comprehension was measured for each text using multiple-choice questions. The results showed that both reading fluency and reading comprehension were significantly better for simplified than for normal texts. Results showed that poor readers and children with weaker cognitive skills (nonverbal intelligence, memory) benefitted to a greater extent from simplification than good readers and children with somewhat stronger cognitive skills.
LangueFrançais FormatTexte (52.504 tokens). Volume79 corpus originaux avec 104 versions adaptées. FinancementsANR-16-CE28-0005. http://corpusalector.huma-num.fr Description ALECTOR est un corpus de ...textes parallèles adressés à des enfants d’entre 7 et 9 ans (niveaux scolaires CE1 à CM1). Il s’agit de textes narratifs (littéraires) et documentaires (scientifiques) dans leur version originale et adaptée. Les adaptations (simplifications) on été faites au niveau lexical, morpho- syntaxique et di...
Dans le but de mettre en lumière les lacunes dans les connaissances du vocabulaire spécifique aux textes de spécialité, nous analyserons dans cet article une série de verbes opaques (polysémiques, ...fréquents dans les manuels d’histoire et de sciences) et nous dresserons un bilan des connaissances lexicales d’un ensemble de 219 enfants de cours moyen (9 à 11 ans) questionnés dans différentes écoles de France. Nous montrerons, par ailleurs, quelles sont les stratégies utilisées par les élèves pour répondre à la consigne proposée : écrire une phrase avec un verbe donné hors contexte.
People with central field loss (CFL) use peripheral vision to identify words. Eccentric vision provides ambiguous visual inputs to the processes leading to lexical access. Our purpose was to explore ...the hypothesis that this ambiguity leads to strong influences of inferential processes, our prediction being that increasing word frequency would decrease word reading time. Individuals with bilateral CFL induced by macular diseases read French sentences displayed with a self-paced reading method. Reading time of the last word of each sentence (target word) was recorded. Each target word (in sentence n) was matched with a synonym word (in sentence n+1) of the same length. When using absolute frequency value (Analysis 1), we found that reading time of target words decreased when word frequency increases, even when controlling for word length. The amplitude of this effect is larger than reported in previous investigations of reading with normal subjects. When comparing the effect of relative frequency (low vs. high) within each pair of synonyms (Analysis 2), results show the same pattern as the one observed in Analysis 1. Our results demonstrate clear-cut frequency effects on word reading time and suggest that inferential processes are stronger in CFL readers than in normally sighted observers. These results might also help design text simplification tools tailored for low-vision patients.
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