This document offers a guide, chronologically arranged, to theories about readability.
The author begins in 1893 with the work of L.A. Sherman on the analytics of literature and continues up to 1948 with the Dale-Chall readability formula and Rudolph Flesch’s work on reading ease.
The author uses the term “smart language” to describe language that fits the reading skills of the reader.
The author offers an introduction to adult literacy surveys, research on readability, and readability formulas. He outlines the shift from classic readability studies like text levelling and vocabulary-frequency lists towards new readability measures like the cloze test and reading efficiency.
Volume 1: 1921-E. L. Thorndike and the Familiar Word
This document includes:
- Introduction
- Word Knowledge in the Elementary School
- The Word Counts and Credits
- General Results- The Results in Detail
- The Adequacy of the Counts
- Uses of the List in the Teacher's Word Book
- The Establishment and Clarification of Standards
- The Evaluation of Text-Books
- Selection and Graduation of Readers
- Material for Phonic Drills
The principles of readability are in every style manual. Readability formulas are in every word processor. What is missing is the research and theory on which they stand. This document discusses and explains readability formulas.
With the growing popularity of readability formulas, it is important to appreciate what they are good for and not good for. Handled properly, they can produce marvellous results. Not handled properly, they can actually reduce comprehension. Like other forms of testing, the formulas find problems. Finding solutions requires a writer's skill.
