How is it that people can have problems with comprehension when there only language is English?

Question

When something is worded in plain English, punctuated and logically written it should be understandable, yet I've seen numberous examples of people not being able to understand questions. It's not the way the question is put, since most people will answer the questions but a few seem unable to understand what is asked or even be able to tell that it is a question, which is very, very weird. Is this some form of illiteracy?

Answer 1

i think you meant

How is it that people can have problems with comprehension when THEIR only language is English? sort of undermines the question

Answer 2

All these answers display some features of English which are questionable or simply wrong. You can ignore Blokheed. He can't tell the difference between "your" and "you're".

It's just that we don't speak literacy and we really ought not to write as we speak. There are two different Englishes in use in Britain and comprehension (as in a school exercise) assumes that people have command of both. Well, they don't. And then there's all those foreign English versions which are different again. Australian English may be the worst; no attempt at grammar at all. The American are rather quaint in their attempts to speak properly at functions but Dubya proves they're not good at it and he's their President. I bet Abe Lincoln, Woodrow Wilson, FDR and JFK spoke much better English. Probably the best English spoken and written is in India, even if it's a bit old fashioned.

Even this brilliant piece has a sentence starting with "And", which is questionable when written but acceptable in speech.

Not so weird after all.

Answer 3

Written language is much different from the oral language. When you read in your own language, you should be able to "hear" it out loud in your head (sounds weird, I know) as you read silently. However, many people cannot hear the voice because they don't have a lot of practice, or have other issues with understanding. Some people are unable to link the written word to the spoken word and are left without help for whatever reason--bad teachers who never cared, don't have the desire to learn, are too easily frustrated, or many other reasons. In the English language, there are often other words in sentences and questions that are not necessary for comprehension, but are necessary to make it "proper." For example: When would you like to go to the store could be simplified to when go store. I can pretty much guarantee that if "when go store" was written, people would know exactly what the question is asking, but we have these other helper words to add. English is a complex and complicated language that doesn't always make sense and doesn't follow a set pattern most of the time. This is why it's important to read to your kids, encourage them to read to you, and to make sure that if they struggle, to get a tutor or reading specialist to help.

Answer 4

Grammar and punctuation is not taught. It was 50 years ago sadly I'm not a little out of practise. Spelling has always been a problem for me.
I would make the point that in many schools the first language of many pupils is not English and some arrive not speaking a word of it . This puts a strain on the teachers although help is brought in. In fairness many end up speaking more correct English then the rest of us.
I am a reading volunteer so I speak as an observer not a teacher

Answer 5

Some of the problem is down to readability. A solid block of text is harder to read than one that is broken up into paragraphs.

Long sentences with long words also hamper comprehension. Short sentences are easier to read and understand. This question has a a rating that says it is fairly difficult.

The average reader reads quickly and easily at about the level of a ten year old which is why certain newspapers are successful.

People also come to questions with their own preconceptions and prejudices and they latch on to parts of the question as a result.

Answer 6

Lack of practice and/or understanding - contrary to popular belief younger people (on average) have a higher level of literacy than the 35-50 age group. This is due to those 'forgotten' in the secondary modern system. People only remember what it was like in the grammars, where our politicians went, not the 'factory school' where the kids were fodder for the local mine or factory.

Mind you, my pet peeve is otherwise literate adults who confuse there/their/they're. LOL!

Answer 7

I party bare devoid of any different than Queen Elizabeth II. fee of admission is a company draw close of the English language. and a few different issues that i'll tell you approximately once you're somewhat older.

Answer 8

It might be a learning disability, like dyslexia. They cannot read the question, so they don't understand it. But dyslexia is not always reading. It can be math also. So don't just a book by its cover. Good Luck!

Answer 9

Try listening to President Bush; I am English and I can't comprehend a word of what he says!

Answer 10

The spell check would have singled out 'numberous', but, regarding the incorrect use of 'there', you just have to be aware of the difference. This is called 'literacy'.

Answer 11

They become bored after reading the first sentence.

Be brief and to the point.