A Corpus-Based Comparative Analysis of the Readability of Chinese Textbooks Used by the Preliminary Schools in Mainland China and Taiwan

Abstract

Combined with the relevant research on the readability formula, this paper determines nine measurement indexes according to the key factors affecting text readability, and makes a quantitative analysis of the primary school Chinese textbooks printed by People's Education Press and Taiwan Hanlin Press. The study found that in terms of Chinese characters, the two editions of textbooks performed better in the coverage of commonly used Chinese characters, and the PEP textbooks have higher requirements for children's literacy skills. In terms of words, the vocabulary richness of the THP textbooks is relatively stable, and the vocabulary distribution is strongly linearly related to grades, while the PEP textbooks lack a reasonable gradient. In terms of sentences, the THP textbook sets higher requirements for the comprehension ability of senior students.