Simple view of reading

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The simple view of reading is that reading is the product of decoding and language comprehension.

In this context,

• “reading” refers to “reading comprehension”,
• “decoding” is simply recognition of written words^[1]
• and “language comprehension” means understanding language, whether spoken or written.

Decoding (D) x (Oral) Language Comprehension (LC) = Reading Comprehension (RC)^[2]

The parts of the equation are:

(D) Decoding: Converting written words into spoken language ^[3]

(LC) Language (listening) comprehension: understanding the meaning of the words in context (as if they had been spoken out loud).

(RC) Reading comprehension: understanding the meaning of the written words in context.

To be clear, all of this can be done while doing silent reading.

The equation asserts the following:

• If a reader can decode the words in a text accurately and understands the meaning of those words in context, they will be able to understand the text (i.e. reading comprehension).
• If a reader can decode the words accurately, but does not understand the meaning of the words in context, they will not have reading comprehension. (e.g. A reader who can decode the word “etymology” but does not know what it means, will not achieve reading comprehension.)
• If a reader cannot decode the words accurately, yet understands the meaning of those words in context, they will not have reading comprehension. (e.g. A reader who knows what a tyrannosaurus rex is, but cannot decode the words, will not achieve reading comprehension.)

The simple view of reading was originally described by psychologists Philip Gough and William Tunmer in 1986 ^[4] and modified by Wesley Hoover and Philip Gough in 1990;^[5] and has led to significant advancements in our understanding of reading comprehension.