高中與高職課本篇章連結性與可讀性測量：以Coh-Metrix分析

Abstract

傳統可讀性測量通常包含字長、句長，以及字頻。然而，連接詞在文章結構處理和理解上也扮演重要的角色，對以英語為外語(EFL)的高中階段特為重要。本研究從三面向來檢視高中(RHS)和高職(VHS)在說明文的差異—語言特色、連接詞、可讀性公式。

首先，說明文先在一個線上自動文章處理工具Coh-Metrix 3.0處理完畢後，所產生的88個項目再被選來進行統計分析。第二、多變異量(MANOVA)和變異數分析(ANOVA)顯示高職和高中主要差異在於語言特色與可讀性公式，卻很少差異源自於連接詞。高職文章語言性比較簡單，時間性連接詞與字詞多樣性也顯著地較高中來得高。第三、高職文章在可讀性公式Flesch Reading Ease (FRE)和 Coh-Metrix L2顯著地高，而高中文章則在Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (FKG) 顯著地高。

基於這些發現，一些教育上的意義提供給課本編寫者和英文老師作為參考。期望本研究結果能增加對高中與高職課本語言特色、連接詞、可讀性三方面的了解，作為未來在教學、攥寫與選擇108課綱新課本的參考。The traditional readability of a text usually involves word and sentence length and frequency. However, the presence of cohesive devices also plays an important role in assisting text structure processing and comprehension, especially for EFL students of the high school level. The present study examined differences in the expository texts of regular high schools (RHS) and vocational high schools (VHS) in three aspects—linguistic features, cohesive devices, and readability measures.

First, expository texts were processed through Coh-Metrix 3.0, an online automatic text processing tool, and 88 indices were selected for statistical analyses. Second, MANOVA and ANOVA showed the VHS and RHS texts mainly differ in linguistic features and readability measures, but very few differences in cohesive devices. The VHS texts are less linguistically challenging, significantly higher in temporal cohesion, and lexical diversity than the RHS texts. Third, the VHS texts are significantly higher in mean scores of Flesch Reading Ease (FRE), and Coh-Metrix L2 whereas the RHS texts are significantly higher in Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (FKG).

Based on the research finding, some pedagogical implications are provided for textbook writers and English teachers. It is hoped that the results could increase the understanding of the current textbooks of two school types in terms of linguistic differences, cohesive devices, and readability as a foundation for English teaching, writing, and selecting the coming new textbooks of the 12-year Basic Education Curriculum Guideline.