"fine linen" Rev. 19:8

there's nothing wrong w the Flesch-Kincaid, except that its application to compare across different languages or dialects is flawed and dishonest. it is conceivable that a Bahasa Indonesian, Romanian, or Welsh text is considered more "readable" on the F-K scale than, say, a Spurgeon sermon. that's because the tool can't read--it only counts n computes syllables n such.

check out the review of Waite's abuse of F-K at http://www.post1.com/home/amarillo/revDKJB.htm

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by This Little Light:
Their formula is: ((.39 x average number of words per sentence) + (11.8 x average number of syllables per word) - (15.59) = grade level).<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

 

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by This Little Light:
The results of this study can be found in the book called New Age Bible Versions which is downloadable at New Age Bible Versions
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

That's... what I was afraid of

 

Chris, don't throw out the F-K reading studies just because they are quoted by someone with little creditability. The F-K reading studies give us some very important information. However, they do then to favor versions which use shorter words (as the KJV) without being able to take into account the current common level of understanding of that word. For instance, F-K would give a lower required reading scale for "wot" than for "know" just because "know" has 4 letters while "wot" only has three. However, how many early 21st century readers (other than regular KJV users) know that "wot" means "know?"

 

That's why you would probably compare english versions with english versions? Of course it only measures syllables and such. Do you think they start kid's off with 5 syllable words or 1 syllable words.

So of course this is the way to compare reading grade levels.

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Forever settled in heaven:
there's nothing wrong w the Flesch-Kincaid, except that its application to compare across different languages or dialects is flawed and dishonest. it is conceivable that a Bahasa Indonesian, Romanian, or Welsh text is considered more "readable" on the F-K scale than, say, a Spurgeon sermon. that's because the tool can't read--it only counts n computes syllables n such.

check out the review of Waite's abuse of F-K at http://www.post1.com/home/amarillo/revDKJB.htm

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

[ January 17, 2002: Message edited by: This Little Light ]