Formal schemata and genre comprehension in foreign languages: a study of the comprehension of the genres review and editorial advertisement.

Abstract

Research on schema theories and background knowledge has shown the positive effect of fonnal schemata on rea­díng comprehension. The works carried out have mainly consísted of either comparing the behaviour of speakers with the same linguistic background reading diffcrent text typologies. or else on comparing the reading comprc­hension of given textual structures by speakers of different linguistíc backgrounds. This paper seeks to show the need of íncludíng the concept of genre in formal schemata and rcading comprehension research. A distinction ís made between text and genre typology. illustrated through the analysis of the genres book review and book advert.Then an experiment is described, which reveals that the understandíng of a text's macrostructure does not mean tte understanding of so essential features as its pragmatic or Communicative function. Conclusions point to the need of including the explicit teaching of genre or contextual parameters in reading comprehension programmes.