Understanding of idiomatic expressions in context in skilled and less-skilled comprehenders:online processing and interpretation

Oakhill, Jane and Cain, Kate and Nesi, Barbara (2016) Understanding of idiomatic expressions in context in skilled and less-skilled comprehenders:online processing and interpretation. Scientific Studies of Reading, 20 (2). pp. 124-139. ISSN 1088-8438

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Abstract

This paper reports a study in which good and poor comprehenders (between 8 to 10 years) read short passages containing phrases that could be interpreted as idiomatic or not, depending on the context. Familiarity was manipulated by including real (English) idioms and novel (translations of Italian) idioms. Reading times for the target phrases were measured and the children’s understanding of the target expressions was assessed. The older children and better comprehenders were more likely to interpret idiomatic phrases correctly. In particular, there was an interaction between age and meaning condition: the younger children were less able to choose an appropriate interpretation of the figurative expressions. In general, children spent relatively more time reading the idiomatic expressions than the literal ones, with the exception of less-skilled comprehenders when presented with novel (Italian) idioms. They seemed not to appreciate that these expressions needed any particular effort for interpretation.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
Scientific Studies of Reading
Additional Information:
This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Scientific Studies of Reading on 12/01/2016, available online: http://wwww.tandfonline.com/10.1080/10888438.2015.1092973
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/3200/3201
Subjects:
?? EDUCATIONPSYCHOLOGY (MISCELLANEOUS) ??
ID Code:
75501
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
06 Nov 2015 09:30
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
18 Sep 2023 00:54