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Text readability encompasses two aspects, namely, ease of comprehension and ease of processing (in relation to the effort required for reading comprehension). Researchers at University of Tsukuba analyzed eye-tracking data from Japanese second-language English learners and revealed that text processing ease can be efficiently predicted using only basic factors such as word and sentence length.

The study is published in the journal Language Learning.

Objectively evaluating text readability is crucial for ensuring the suitability of selected materials according to learners’ levels. Many researchers propose various indicators, particularly for English texts.

However, the majority of these indicators measure ease of comprehension, and only a few measure the time and effort required for reading, a concept also known as ease of processing.

In this study, the researchers aimed to investigate factors for predicting ease of processing among English learners by analyzing eye movement data during text reading as an indicator of processing effort.

Data were derived from an open eye-tracking database composed of 41 Japanese-speaking university and graduate students reading passages equivalent to Eiken Grades Pre-2, 2, and Pre-1.

The researchers constructed statistical models that predict total reading time, number of skips, and number of regressions (backward eye movement) per passage using various linguistic indicators, including lexical sophistication, syntactic complexity, and text cohesion.

The results demonstrated that processing effort during reading could be effectively predicted using only basic, easily calculable factors such as word and sentence length.

These findings indicated that text readability (i.e., ease of processing) among English learners can be estimated without using complex linguistic feature indexes. This study provides valuable insights into the selection of reading materials and the development of reading tests for English learners.

More information: Shingo Nahatame et al, Revisiting Text Readability and Processing Effort in Second Language Reading: Bayesian Analysis of Eye‐Tracking Data, Language Learning (2025). DOI: 10.1111/lang.70011

Citation: English text readability can be estimated using basic linguistic features, study indicates (2025, October 31) retrieved 31 October 2025 from https://phys.org/news/2025-10-english-text-readability-basic-linguistic.html

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