Processamento do texto escrito em inglês, com e sem inserção de glossários multimidiáticos

Abstract

This study aimed at investigating the effects of different types of multimedia glossaries on the recognition and production of target words and on the comprehension of texts in English as a second language. The research developed to achieve this goal was based on the interactive models of text processing (CARRELL, 1988; ADAMS, 1979; among others) and on the studies of the effects of vocabulary (PERFETTI; HOGABOAM, 1975; ADAMS, 1979; MASSARO, 1975; JENKINS, 1974; and ANDERSON; FREEBODY, 1985; among others) and on the role glossaries play (YANGUAS,2009; DAVIS,1989; BOWLES, 2004; CHUN; PLASS,1996; AL-SEGHAYER,2001) in text comprehension. The participants of this study were English learners at the pre-intermediate level of language proficiency. These participants were split into two groups, and each group was assigned the task of reading two different texts. There were two versions of each text: one version in which a glossary of some words in the text was inserted, and another version with no glossary. Each group read one text in one these versions, for example, one text with the insertion of glossary, and the other text in the other version, without a glossary for example. After reading each text, the participants had to answer 3 (three) questions concerning the recognition of 3 (three) different words, 3 (three) questions concerning the translation of other 3 (three) words, and 3 (three) questions on the comprehension of the main ideas in the text. Results indicate that, when learners are exposed to any type of multimedia glossary while reading a text, they perform better in recognizing target words and in producing them. Nevertheless, results were inconclusive as to the role multimedia glossaries play in the comprehension of main ideas of a text. It was also observed that multimedia glossaries, which included some kind of illustration, either alone or along with a text, were more effective in contributing to a better performance in the recognition and production of target words. Although no generalizations concerning the results of this study can be made due to its small sample size and the lack of statistical treatment applied to the data, it can add to other studies concerning the role of vocabulary on understanding a text in a second/foreign language, even if the results do not support the hypothesis that lexical knowledge is the key factor for efficient reading in a second language.