Glossing and Glossing and Reading Reading

ComprehensionComprehensionBrian GillBrian GillApril 2005April 2005

http://fis.ucalgary.ca/Brianhttp://fis.ucalgary.ca/Brian

Uses of GlossingUses of Glossing• A traditional way of helping readers, A traditional way of helping readers,

dating back to the Middle Agesdating back to the Middle Ages• More recently, More recently, a majority of L2 a majority of L2

textbooks and reading texts provide textbooks and reading texts provide notes, often at the bottom of the page, notes, often at the bottom of the page, on vocabulary and cultural referenceson vocabulary and cultural references

• On-line glossing, using hyperlinks, On-line glossing, using hyperlinks, offer exciting possibilities. This has offer exciting possibilities. This has been studied, but is as yet little been studied, but is as yet little developed (Bougaïeff)developed (Bougaïeff)

+ and - of Glossing+ and - of Glossing• Gives students access to difficult text Gives students access to difficult text

without constant recourse to the dictionary.without constant recourse to the dictionary.• Provides text-specific meanings, obviating Provides text-specific meanings, obviating

the need to select from multiple meanings the need to select from multiple meanings in a dictionaryin a dictionary

• May encourage focus on words rather than May encourage focus on words rather than overall comprehension, thus hindering overall comprehension, thus hindering fluency.fluency.

• May be distracting and annoying.May be distracting and annoying.

Research Questions (1)Research Questions (1)• Does glossing help vocabulary acquisition?Does glossing help vocabulary acquisition?

– Hulstijn Hulstijn et al.et al. 1996 found that incidental vocabulary 1996 found that incidental vocabulary learning is higher when glosses or a dictionary are learning is higher when glosses or a dictionary are used. used.

• Does glossing improve reading comprehension?Does glossing improve reading comprehension?– Mixed results: Lomicka 1998; Jacobs Mixed results: Lomicka 1998; Jacobs et al.et al. 1994 1994

• Does glossing hinder reading fluency?Does glossing hinder reading fluency?– ““When readers disrupt their reading to look at a When readers disrupt their reading to look at a

gloss, the focus on individual vocabulary items, gloss, the focus on individual vocabulary items, rather than larger conceptions of content and rather than larger conceptions of content and rhetorical mode, may interfere with the creation of rhetorical mode, may interfere with the creation of an overall mental representation of the text linked an overall mental representation of the text linked with readers’ current knowledge bases.” (Jacobs with readers’ current knowledge bases.” (Jacobs 1994: 119)1994: 119)

Research Questions (2)Research Questions (2)• Are unobtrusive glosses better than obvious Are unobtrusive glosses better than obvious

ones?ones?– De Ridder 2000 and 2002De Ridder 2000 and 2002

• What are the effects of different sorts of glosses What are the effects of different sorts of glosses (translation, image, question…)?(translation, image, question…)?– Chun and Plass 1996 found that recall for visual Chun and Plass 1996 found that recall for visual

annotations was better than for text alone. annotations was better than for text alone. – Davis and Lyman-Hager 1997 found that given a Davis and Lyman-Hager 1997 found that given a

choice, students accessed primarily English definitionschoice, students accessed primarily English definitions– Lomicka 1998 found that questions generated more Lomicka 1998 found that questions generated more

inferences about the text. inferences about the text.

ExamplesExamples• Reading French (University of Reading French (University of

Calgary): Calgary): – Histoire de Histoire de ChâliChâli– Les Les OrduresOrdures dudu CaireCaire

• Easy French Literature (Université Easy French Literature (Université de Trois-Rivières: de Trois-Rivières: https://oraprdnt.uqtr.uquebec.ca/pls/public/atxwhttps://oraprdnt.uqtr.uquebec.ca/pls/public/atxw007?owa_no_recueil=1&owa_nom_recueil=ELF007?owa_no_recueil=1&owa_nom_recueil=ELF