scholarly journals Lexical Complexity and Readibility Realized in The Introduction Sections of Selected English Journals

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 298-307
Author(s):  
Andhani Mayangsari ◽  
Sri Wuli Fitriati ◽  
Djoko Sutopo
Keyword(s):  
Grade Level ◽  
English Department ◽  
Graduate Degree ◽  
Function Words ◽  
Lexical Diversity ◽  
Lexical Complexity ◽  
Lexical Items ◽  
Lexical Density ◽  
Readability Level

This study focused on the analysis of lexical complexity of the introduction section of the English journals manifested in lexical density, lexical diversity and lexical sophistication. This study also investigated the readability level of those texts. The method used in this study was a quantitative study by utilizing lexical complexity and readability analysis. The results of the study show that the manifestation of lexical density of the texts was above 0.50, representing that the content words utilized within the text were higher than function words. Furthermore, most of the introduction sections of the selected English journals achieved lexical diversity level more than 0.30 in which the highest lexical diversity was shown by EEJ journals and EduLite journals that shared the same level of lexical diversity with 0.35. Besides, the introduction sections were composed of. various advanced lexical items in terms of Academic Word Lists (AWL). Also, all introduction sections of the English journals - EEJ, EduLite and IJAL was readable for English department students both undergraduate and graduate degree based on Flesch Kincaid Reading Ease, Flesch Kincaid Grade Level and Miyazaki readability index. It is suggested that the journals’ introduction sections should be composed of informationally dense lexical items covering the important ideas to strengthen the arguments. It is expected that further studies could investigate more about other aspects that determine the quality of English journals’ introduction sections to uncover deeply about the quality of the texts.

scholarly journals Lexical Complexity on Descriptive Writing of Indonesian Male and Female EFL Learners

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 297
Author(s):  
Siti Aisah Ginting
Keyword(s):  
Academic Writing ◽  
Text Analysis ◽  
English Department ◽  
Lexical Diversity ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Lexical Complexity ◽  
Lexical Density ◽  
Descriptive Writing ◽  
Computerized Text Analysis

This study was aimed to find out the effect of gender on linguistics properties of academic writing abstracts of Indonesian Male and Female EFL Learners. Therefore, the linguistics properties of 40 essays from EFL learners (20 males & 20 females) were analyzed on the lexical complexity (diversity and density). The participants were selected from a homogenous group of EFL learners who were sitting for Writing 1 (one) subject in the English Department Universitas Negeri Medan—Indonesia. A computerized text analysis program (Word Smith Tools) was employed to measure the lexical complexity of the EFL learners’ essays (descriptive writing). As a result, females indicated to write more lexical density way than males in their descriptive writing but no significant different on lexical diversity. 

Lexical complexity of academic presentations

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alla Zareva
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
University Students ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
English For Academic Purposes ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Lingua Franca ◽  
Lexical Diversity ◽  
English Speaking ◽  
Lexical Complexity ◽  
Lexical Density

Abstract The present study examined the lexical complexity profiles of academic presentations of three groups of university students (N = 93) – native English speaking, English as a second language, and English as a lingua franca users. It adopted a notion of lexical complexity which includes lexical diversity, lexical density, and lexical sophistication as main dimensions of the framework. The study aimed at finding out how the three academically similar groups of presenters compared on their lexical complexity choices, what the lexical complexity profiles of high quality students’ academic presentations looked like, and whether we can identify variables that contribute to the overall lexical complexity of presentations given by each group in a unique way. The findings revealed overwhelming similarities across the three groups of presenters and also suggested that the three dimensional framework provides a holistic picture of the lexical complexity for various groups of English for academic purposes presenters.

Lexical Features of Academic Writing

2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aliakbar Imani ◽  
Hadina Habil
Keyword(s):  
Academic Writing ◽  
Measurement Method ◽  
Complexity Level ◽  
Written Text ◽  
Good Criterion ◽  
Academic Texts ◽  
Measurement Tools ◽  
Lexical Complexity ◽  
Lexical Density

In measuring the quality of written text, especially academic writing, lexical features are as important as grammatical features and should not be ignored. The highly computable nature of lexicons can make them a good criterion for determining and measuring the quality of text. In this article three lexical features: lexical density, complexity, and formality are reviewed and justified as measurement tools of academic texts. Furthermore, a measurement method is offered to evaluate lexical complexity level of an academic text.

scholarly journals A fountain of knowledge? The quality of online resources for testicular cancer patients

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Yeo ◽  
Bernhard Eigl ◽  
Paris-Ann Ingledew
Keyword(s):  
Patient Education ◽  
Testicular Cancer ◽  
Grade Level ◽  
Online Resources ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Level System ◽  
Solid Malignancy ◽  
Cancer Resources ◽  
Readability Level

Introduction: Testicular cancer is the most common solid malignancy diagnosed in young men aged 15–29. This population is also the age group that searches most actively for health information online. This study systematically evaluates the quality of websites available to patients with testicular cancer. Methods: The term “testicular cancer” was inputted into the search engines Google, Dogpile, and Yippy. The top 100 websites intended for patient education were compiled. A validated structural rating tool was used to evaluate the websites with respect to attribution, currency, disclosure, interactivity, readability, and content. Results: Less than half of the websites (44) disclosed authorship. Sixty-one websites provided a last modified date, and of those, 46 were updated in the last two years. The average readability level was 11.01 using the Flesh Kincaid grade level system. The most accurate topic was treatment, with 82 websites being completely accurate and containing all required information. The least accurate topic was prognosis, with 27 being completely accurate. Conclusions: These results show that authorship and currency are lacking in many online testicular resources, making it difficult for patients to validate the reliability of information. The high average readability of testicular cancer websites can affect comprehension. Topics such as prognosis were incompletely covered although represent an area for which patients often seek more information. These results can be used to counsel patients on the strength and weaknesses of online testicular cancer resources.

Influence of learners’ prior knowledge, L2 proficiency and pre-task planning on L2 lexical complexity

2019 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gavin Bui
Keyword(s):  
Task Performance ◽  
Prior Knowledge ◽  
Language Instruction ◽  
Oral Narrative ◽  
Task Planning ◽  
L2 Proficiency ◽  
Lexical Diversity ◽  
Lexical Complexity ◽  
Lexical Density ◽  
Planning Group

Abstract Although differentiating between fluency, accuracy and complexity, while assessing L2 task performance, is becoming a standard practice, lexical complexity as a distinctive area has received less attention in the task-based language teaching (TBLT) literature. This study re-examines previous frameworks of lexical complexity and investigates three lexical dimensions, lexical diversity, lexical sophistication and lexical density, using a structured 2 × 2 × 2 split-plot experimental design. The participants were divided into a non-planning group and a planning group and each group was further dichotomised into two proficiency levels. Each participant was assigned one familiar and one unfamiliar oral narrative task. The results show that one’s prior knowledge about a subject is associated with higher lexical diversity and sophistication, while pre-task planning promotes lexical density. The effects of proficiency seem to be largely overridden by the effects of prior knowledge and pre-task planning and show little impact on overall lexical performance. Interestingly, lexical diversity and lexical sophistication are independent of each other, and lexical density is moderately correlated with both lexical diversity and lexical sophistication. The results are discussed with reference to the Levelt model of speech production with some pedagogical implications on content-based language instruction. The exploration of the relationships between the lexical measures reveals a need for deeper and subtler characterisation of L2 lexical complexity.

scholarly journals Readability formulas: An analysis into reading index of prose forms

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 972-985
Author(s):  
Revathi Gopal ◽  
Mahendran Maniam ◽  
Noor Alhusna Madzlan ◽  
Siti Shuhaida binti Shukor ◽  
Kanmani Neelamegam
Keyword(s):  
Grade Level ◽  
Text Comprehension ◽  
Literary Texts ◽  
School Students ◽  
Learning And Teaching ◽  
Reading Material ◽  
Reading Abilities ◽  
Text Selection ◽  
Readability Level ◽  
Readability Formulas

Text comprehension will suffer if the readability level is not accessible to the students. Readability formulas predict text complexity, assisting in appropriate text selection that complements students’ reading abilities to improve their language development. Therefore, the study aims to find out the reading index of the prose forms in the literature component catered to lower secondary school students ages 13 and 14 years old in Form One (seventh grade) and Form Two (eighth grade) classrooms in Malaysia. The reading index is measured by using four readability formulas which are Dale-Chall, Fog, SMOG, and Flesch-Kincaid that focuses on the words, sentences, syllables, and polysyllable words. These formulas are used to predict the level of difficulty of the prose forms. The reading index calculated from these readability formulas reveals the grade level of the prose forms. The grade level indicates the best age for reading and understanding the prose forms. Two prose forms were chosen as samples in the study. A passage is chosen from each prose form to be uploaded using the online tool. The indices obtained from the readability formulas predicted that both of the prose forms were below students’ reading age. The study implicates reading index must be taken into consideration in literary texts selection because it is an indicator of the years of education that an individual requires to comprehend the literary text clearly. Suitable reading material at students’ age level can enhance literature learning and teaching in the ESL classroom.

scholarly journals Correlation between Metadiscourse, Lexical Complexity, Readability and Writing Performance in EFL University Students’ Research-based Essays

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (S1-May) ◽  
pp. 238-254
Author(s):  
Ali Erarslan
Keyword(s):  
Positive Relationship ◽  
Academic Vocabulary ◽  
Writing Quality ◽  
Lexical Diversity ◽  
Writing Performance ◽  
Statistical Measures ◽  
Textual Features ◽  
Lexical Density ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship

Metadiscourse is a tool for writers to guide and interact with readers through texts. Yet in most student texts, one of the points lacking is the interaction between writers and readers. In this study, frequency and type of interactive and interactional metadiscourse features were explored via students’ research-based essays based on Hyland’s metadiscourse taxonomy. Additionally, the students’ English Vocabulary Profile (EVP), lexical diversity, lexical density, and readability features of the texts in the corpus were scrutinized, which serve as an indicator of writing quality. Finally, the relationship of metadiscourse use with students’ writing performance, lexical diversity, lexical density, and readability was explored through statistical measures. Findings show that following explicit metadiscourse instruction, students’ research-based essays included more interactive metadiscourse than interactional metadiscourse, indicating that the students were dealing with more textual features, such as coherence, than interactional metadiscourse. Apart from findings regarding EVP such as lexical diversity, lexical density, and readability features, a positive relationship was explored between metadiscourse use and writing performance, lexical components, and textual features. It is concluded that metadiscourse should be integrated into the writing syllabus since it has a positive relationship with students’ use of academic vocabulary in their essays.

scholarly journals DESIGNING LIFE SKILL – BASED ENGLISH READING MATERIALS FOR SECOND GRADE STUDENTS OF SMA NEGERI 1 PRINGGASELA

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 297-322
Author(s):  
Sutarman Sutarman ◽  
Ari Saputra ◽  
Syamsurrijal Syamsurrijal
Keyword(s):  
Grade Level ◽  
Second Grade ◽  
Life Skill ◽  
Second Grade Students ◽  
English Reading ◽  
Open Questions ◽  
Reading Materials ◽  
Designed Materials ◽  
Teacher's Manual ◽  
Readability Level

This research aims to: developing life skill-based English reading materials design for the second grade students  of SMA NEGERI 1 PRINGGASELA. The design used in this research is report design by using R&D ( Research and Development ) approach. The subjects of this research are the second grade students of SMA Negeri 1 Pringgasela in academic year 2016/2017. There are 35 students. In collecting data, the researcher uses two steps. First, the researcher distributed questionnaires into the students. Second, the researcher gathers data for conducting evaluation, opinion and suggestion from an English Teacher of SMAN 1 Pringgasela and an expert of designed materials. All responses and comments to the open questions were reviewed and grouped into some meaningful categories as they provide useful information for revising the product.        To determine the readability level of the texts used in new developed reading materials, the following are the categories of readability level and reader grade level according to Flesch Readability East Formula and Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level. Scores between 90.0 and 100.0, considered easily understandable. Scores between 60.0 and 70.0, considered easily understood. Scores between 0.0 and 30.0, considered easily understood. The final product of the materials consists of a course material of Life Skill Based English Material and a teacher’s manual. Whole Language Reading provides rich input of reading strategies, variety of topics, concepts, texts, activities, tasks, and evaluations. Using this material makes reading more holistic and meaningful as it provides integration across language skills and subject areas. Educational institutions need to provide a rich learning environment with a variety of reading sources, print and digital to provide opportunities for students to choose and determine reading materials that suit their needs.

scholarly journals Malignant websites? Analyzing the quality of prostate cancer education web resources

2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin Kobes ◽  
Ilene B. Harris ◽  
Glenn Regehr ◽  
Ara Tekian ◽  
Paris-Ann Ingledew
Keyword(s):  
Prostate Cancer ◽  
Grade Level ◽  
Cancer Education ◽  
School Level ◽  
Cancer Information ◽  
High School Level ◽  
Web Resources ◽  
Inaccurate Information ◽  
University Level

Introduction: Prostate cancer patients are using more web resources to inform themselves about their cancer. However, patients may receive out-of-date or inaccurate information due to lack of regulation. The current study looks to systematically analyze the quality of websites accessed by patients with prostate cancer.Methods: The term “prostate cancer” was searched in Google and the metasearch engines, Yippy and Dogpile, and the top 100 hits related to patient information were compiled from over 32 million hits. A standardized tool was used to examine 100 sites with respect to attribution, currency, usability, and content.Results: Of the top 100 websites relating to prostate cancer information, only 27% identified an author, of which 16% had their credentials displayed. The majority of websites disclosed ownership (97%). Over half of the websites did not include the date of the last update and of those that did, only 66% were current within two years. According to the Flesch Kincaid grade level tool for readability, the majority (87%) of sites were found to be at a high school level, while 6% were at university level. Finally, content varied among websites; 90% of sites provided information on detection and workup and treatments, but only 14% of sites included information on prognosis.Conclusions: The reliability of websites presenting prostate cancer information is questionable. There were noted deficiencies in attribution, currency, and readability. While information on detection and treatment is well-covered, information related to prognosis is lacking.

Function words in statistical machine-translated Chinese and original Chinese: A study into the translationese of machine translation systems

2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 752-771
Author(s):  
Chen-li Kuo
Keyword(s):  
Machine Translation ◽  
Attribute Selection ◽  
Close Attention ◽  
Function Words ◽  
Rule Based ◽  
Source Language ◽  
Statistical Mt ◽  
Chinese Texts ◽  
Translation Systems

Abstract Statistical approaches have become the mainstream in machine translation (MT), for their potential in producing less rigid and more natural translations than rule-based approaches. However, on closer examination, the uses of function words between statistical machine-translated Chinese and the original Chinese are different, and such differences may be associated with translationese as discussed in translation studies. This article examines the distribution of Chinese function words in a comparable corpus consisting of MTs and the original Chinese texts extracted from Wikipedia. An attribute selection technique is used to investigate which types of function words are significant in discriminating between statistical machine-translated Chinese and the original texts. The results show that statistical MT overuses the most frequent function words, even when alternatives exist. To improve the quality of the end product, developers of MT should pay close attention to modelling Chinese conjunctions and adverbial function words. The results also suggest that machine-translated Chinese shares some characteristics with human-translated texts, including normalization and being influenced by the source language; however, machine-translated texts do not exhibit other characteristics of translationese such as explicitation.

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