Article published In: ITL - International Journal of Applied Linguistics
Vol. 135/136 (2002) ► pp.1–35
Reading Strategies in L1 and L2
Comparison of Four Groups of Readers with Different Reading Ability in L1 and L2
Published online: 1 January 2002
https://doi.org/10.1075/itl.135-136.01yam
https://doi.org/10.1075/itl.135-136.01yam
Abstract
This study compared LI (Japanese) and L2 (English) reading strategies reported by four groups of readers with different reading ability backgrounds. Information on the strategies was extracted by a think aloud method. The following points emerged. (1) Generally speaking, readers tend to transfer their LI reading strategies to their L2 reading. (2) Language independent strategies are more likely to be transferred from LI to L2 than language dependent strategies. (3) High LI reading ability compensates for weak L2 reading ability, but there is a limit to this compensation. These results suggested a stronger relationship between LI and L2 reading processes than is predicted by the linguistic threshold hypothesis. The possibility that we can explain the results by combining the linguistic threshold hypothesis and the linguistic interdependence hypothesis, which have often been treated as conflicting, was discussed.
References (27)
ALDERSON, J.C. (1984). Reading in a Foreign Language: a Reading Problem or a Language Problem. In Alderson J.C, and Urquhart A.H. (eds.).
BERNHARDT, E.B., and KAMIL, M.L.. (1995). Interpreting Relationships between L1 and L2 Reading: Consolidating the Linguistic Threshold and the Linguistic Interdependence Hypotheses. Applied Linguistics. 16. 1. 15-34.
BLOCK, E. (1986). The Comprehension Strategies of Second Language Readers. TESOL Quarterly. 20. 3. 463-494.
(1992). See How They Read: Comprehension Monitoring of L1 and L2 Readers. TESOL Quarterly. 26. 2. 319-343.
BOSSERS, B. (1991). On Thresholds, Ceilings and Short-Circuits: The Relation between L1 Reading, L2 Reading and L2 Knowledge. In Hulstijn, J.H., and Matter, J.F. (eds.) 45-60.
(1992). Reading in Two Languages: A Study of Reading Comprehension in Dutch as a Second Language and in Turkish as a First Language. Rotterdam: Drukkerij Van Driel.
BRISBOIS, J.I. (1995). Connections between First- and Second-Language Reading. Journal of Reading Behavior. 27. 4. 565-584.
CARRELL, P.L. (1991). Second Language Reading: Reading Ability or Language Proficiency? Applied Linguistics. 121. 59-179.
COHEN, A.D. (1984a). Studying Second-Language Learing Strategies: How Do We Get the Information? Applied Linguistics. 5. 2. 101-112.
COHEN, A. D.(1986). Mentalistic Measures in Reading Strategy Research: Some Recent Findings. English for Specific Purposes. 5. 2. 131-145.
COHEN, A.D., and Hosenfeld, C. (1981). Some Uses of Mentalistic Data in Second Language Research. Language Learning. 31. 2. 285-313.
DAVIS, J.N., and BISTODEAU, L. (1993). How do L1 and L2 Reading Differ: Evidence from Think Aloud Protocals. Modern Language Journal. 771. 459-472.
DEVINE, J., CARRELL, P., and ESKEY, D.E. (1987). Research in Reading in English as a Second Language. TESOL, Washington, D.C.
ERICSSON, A., and SIMON, H. (1993). Protocol Analysis: Verbal Reports as Data (revised edition). MIT Press, Cambridge.
FAERCH, C. and KASPER, G. (1987). Introspection in Second Language Research. Philadelphia. Multilingual Matters.
HORIBY, Y. (1990). Narrative Comprehension Processes: A Study of Native and Non-Native Readers of Japanese. Modern Language Journal. 74. 2. 188-202.
LEE, J., and SCHALLERT, D.L. (1997). The Relative Contribution of L2 Language Proficiency and L1 Reading Ability to L2 Reading Performance: A Test of the Threshold Hypothesis in an EFL Context. TESOL Quarterly. 31. 4. 713-739.
PERKINS, K., BRUTTEN, S.R., and POHLMANNM, J.T. (1989). First and Second Language Reading Comprehension. RELC Journal. 201. 1-9.
PRESSLEY, M., and AFFLERBACH, P. (1995). Verbal Protocols of Reading. New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
SARIG, G. (1987). High-level Reading in the First and in the Foreign Language: Some Comparative Process Data. In Devine, J. et al. (eds.)
SCHOONEN, R., HULSTIJN, J., and BOSSERS, B. (1998). Metacognitive and Language-Specific Knowledge in Native and Foreign Language Reading Comprehension: An Empirical Study Among Dutch Students in Grades 6, 8 and 10. Language Learning. 481. 71-106.
TAILLEFER, G.E. (1996). L2 Reading Ability: Further Insight into the Short-circuit Hypothesis. Modern Language Journal. 80. 4. 461-477.
Cited by (17)
Cited by 17 other publications
Reynolds, Barry Lee & Chen Ding
Talebi, Seyed Hassan, Javad Fallahi & Ali Amjadi
Toplu, Nuray Caylak & Ismail Hakki Erten
KOBUL, Mustafa Kerem & Mustafa Naci KAYAOĞLU
Khaghaninejad, Mohammad Saber
Song, Kwangok, Bokhee Na & Hyun Joo Kwon
Umek, Alenka
Bang, Jyun
Lin, Lu‐Chun & Wan‐Yu Yu
Gabryś-Barker, Danuta
Karimi, Mohammad Nabi & Mohamood Reza Atai
Bowles, Melissa A.
TAFAGHODTARI, MARZIEH H.
Tafaghodtari, Marzieh H. & Larry Vandergrift
Yamashita, Junko
Bowles, Melissa A. & Ronald P. Leow
van Gelderen, Amos, Rob Schoonen, Kees de Glopper, Jan Hulstijn, Annegien Simis, Patrick Snellings & Marie Stevenson
This list is based on CrossRef data as of 30 march 2026. Please note that it may not be complete. Sources presented here have been supplied by the respective publishers. Any errors therein should be reported to them.
