Lexical and Syntactic Research for the Design of EFL Reading Materials

Reading may be viewed as a decoding process in which the two major factors that determine whether comprehension takes place are a knowledge of vocabulary and syntax. Technical prose is characterized by a style which is definable in terms of these two factors and this style is often difficult for students who have completed intermediate or advanced EFL training. More effective EFL reading materials can be constructed if an accurate analysis of the lexicon and syntax of technical prose is made. A research program for investigating these two variables is described.