Effects of orthographic opacity on reading fluency among Zambian Nyanja-English bilinguals.
Date
2022-12-01
Authors
Kaani, Bestern
Mulubale, Sanny
Setwin, Mutau Mufalo
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
ARC Journals
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of orthographic opacity on reading fluency. The focus was on evaluating the dynamics of reading fluency, particularly to determine how accuracy and speed skills are affected by orthographic transparency among bilinguals. A sample comprising of 108 fifth and sixth grade children were tested on two reading fluency passages in Nyanja and English writing system in Chipata and Chadiza Districts of the Eastern Province of Zambia. Errors committed and times taken to read were recorded in each language and child. Results reveal that the participants were more accurate in Nyanja in comparison to English, but they were faster in English that Nyanja. Reading fluency variables were highly correlated suggesting a non-significant relationship between the two orthographies. Although our results were in conformity with and the supported the traditional models of reading acquisition and development theories suggesting significant differences as a function of orthographic depth, the mean differences were not statistically significant indicating that variations in reading fluency achievement among Zambian children were as marked as variations reported in comparisons between English and other European orthographies. It could be argued that the non-significant performance resulted from Zambian children’s bilingualism, which facilitates cross-linguistic transfer of reading skills between writing systems.
Description
Article
Keywords
Word recognition. , Reading--Remedial teaching. , Reading--Phonetic method. , Reading (Elementary). , Orthography. , Speed reading.
Citation
Kaani, B. Mulubale, S. and Mufalo (2022) Effects of Orthographic Opacity on Reading Fluency among Zambian Nyanja-English Bilinguals. IJSELL, Vol 10, Issue 12 pp. 1 -16