Readability ― Text and Context

What makes a text readable? Although there are many studies concerned with readability from various perspectives, there have been no recent attempts to consider the field more generally, as an area of scholarly research as well as one that has practical significance. This book brings together the relevant literature and theories, and situates them within a unified account. Beginning with an historical treatment of the concept of readability and readability formulas, it goes on to discuss recent research on the subject from the perspectives of many fields, including psycholinguistics, sociolinguistics, and text linguistics. The book will be invaluable to both scholars and practitioners who seek a single resource offering a comprehensive, principled discussion of the issues.

Alan Bailin is Professor of Library Services at Hofstra University, USA. He has extensive experience in research and writing about issues related to the communication of information. He has published in journals such as Journal of Academic Librarianship and Language & Communication. With Ann Grafstein he co-authored the book, The Critical Assessment of Research: Traditional and New Methods of Evaluation.
Ann Grafstein is Associate Professor of Library Services at Hofstra University, USA. She has extensive experience in research and writing about issues related to the communication of information. She has published in journals such as Journal of Academic Librarianship, Theoretical Approaches to Native American Languages, and Language & Communication. With Alan Bailin she co-authored the book, The Critical Assessment of Research: Traditional and New Methods of Evaluation.