著者

長沼 君主

出版者

清泉女子大学

雑誌

清泉女子大学紀要 (ISSN:05824435)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.51, pp.XIII-XXIX, 2003-12-25

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In extensive reading, graded readers, in which texts are classified into several levels according to their range of vocabulary, are often recommended to learners. In those texts, vocabulary is controlled, and "simplified" input is given to the readers to eliminate the difficulty they may face in their reading. However, simplification sometimes entails loss of variety and authenticity of expressions, and therefore may tend to be monotonous and less interesting for the readers. In this study, the frequency and coverage of basic vocabulary in an "authentic" novel are examined, and the percentage of, supposedly, "unknown" words are calculated. The result shows that the coverage of "known" words seems enough for readers to read texts with not so much attention to the detail understanding of the text, but rather to the pleasure of following the storyline. The use of authentic material in extensive reading thus seems promising, though further research is required to find about the cognitive process and strategies of the readers in reading authentic texts.