Linguistic Competence In Reading

Introduction:

Reading is an essential activity in our daily life. It is done with a purpose. Generally we read either for information or to seek pleasure. The type of reading you do or the way you read a text varies according to the purpose in reading. Thus reading is a selective activity. Reading speed varies according to content and purpose.

Reading is an interactive process that goes on between the reader and the text, resulting in comprehension. The text presents letters, words, sentences, and paragraphs that encode meaning. The reader uses knowledge, skills, and strategies to determine what that meaning is.

It includes:

• Linguistic competence

• Discourse competence

• Sociolinguistic competence

• Strategic competence

According to Francis

2. SCANNING:

Scanning refers to reading a book or text for specific information.

How to scan:

1. Decide in mind what you want to search for.

2. Glance rapidly down the page or column expecting the information to stand out.

3. Chapter titles, headings of chapter divisions, side headings, italic section heading etc. will function as signposts.

4. Move the eyes across the pages briskly so that what is sought for, strikes the eyes.

5. Note down or highlight the required specific information, reading the passage keeping in mind the pre-reading questions and then focus on specific information.

Advantages of scanning:

1. Scanning allows the reader to efficiently gather information, which may be scattered throughout a long piece of writing.

2. It encourages the reader to research in a purposeful way.

3. It helps to avoid distractions.

Disadvantages of

EXTENSIVE READING:

• It is also called rapid reading or Independent silent reading.

• It means :

- To read silently

- To read quickly

- To understand the subject matter and meaning as efficiently as possible

- To read without the help of the teacher

- To read to pass words into passive vocabulary

• According to Thompson and Wyatt, “Extensive reading is the cultivation of a taste for reading and it seeks by encouraging the habit of visualizing what is read to make reading a form of visual instruction.

• Pre-requisite conditions for Extensive reading:

a. The pupil must have acquired a vocabulary of at least 500 words. This means that rapid reading should be started at the beginning of the middle stage, not before that.

b. They must have formed the habit of reading and study.

c. They must have developed the ability to recognize words faster than to pronounce them.

Steps in Extensive Reading:

1) Introductory talk by the teacher:

• Give hints as to the points of the story

• Deal with specific language difficulties

2) Silent reading by the pupils

3) Questions by the teacher

4) Recapitulation

Advantages of Extensive reading:

• It helps in assimilation of ideas.

• It keeps the whole class busy and