Abstract:Context is an important concept in linguistics. System functional linguists believe that the use of language is inseparable from context. Context not only plays an important role on the study of language in semantics and pragmatics but also has an impact on English reading. If we can understand the text guided by the context properly, we can avoid the situation that we cannot continue reading when we face with unfamiliar vocabulary or complex sentence.

    The reading material can be seen as a kind of context, and the action of reading itself often occurs within a certain context, many reading strategies have a closely relation with the context. Using context to help text understanding is a reading strategy, which can improve reading efficiency. This article is primarily to explore English reading comprehensive ability strategy from the perspective of cultural context. This whole article is divided into five chapters.

    The first chapter introduces the background and significance of this study. Context has become an important factor that influencing students’ English study. Grasping context correctly is helpful for us to improve our comprehension ability. 

The second chapter is the part of literary review; it reviews the previous related research from two aspects of contextual concept and functions, and points out the factors influencing reading comprehension ability and level.

    The third chapter is the body part of the article, it introduces the concept of culture and language and the relationship between them on the basis of the results of research firstly, then argues the effect on English reading by the cultural context from vocabulary, idiom, sentence and text.

    The fourth chapter presents specific learning suggestions: firstly, we should pay attention to cultivate cross-cultural awareness of ourselves through noting social and cultural background of works and strengthening the comparison of Eastern and Western culture during learning of reading. Secondly, we should advocate the English culture class; such as combining English teaching materials to comprehend the cultural connotations of vocabulary, appreciating films and reading the Anglo-American original literary.

    The last chapter makes conclusion. The use of language cannot separable from the context, especially cultural context; any text is the production of a certain context. The cultural context helps to improve our reading comprehension ability effectively. We should enrich our cultural knowledge and cultivate our awareness of cultural context.

Keywords: culture  language  cultural context  reading comprehension

Contents

Abstract

摘要

Chapter One Introduction-1

1.1 Background of the Study-1

1.2 Significance of the Study-1

Chapter Two   Literature Review-2

2.1 What’s Context-2

2.2 Function of Context-2

2.3 Factors Influencing Text Reading-4

2.3.1 Linguistic Factors-4

2.3.2 Non-linguistic Factors-5

Chapter Three Cultural Context and English Text Reading-6

3.1 Relationship between Culture and Language-6

3.2 Influence of Cultural Context on English Text-7

3.2.1 Vocabulary-7

3.2.2 Idiom-7

3.2.3 Sentence-9

3.2.4 Text-9

Chapter Four Learning Suggestions-12

4.1 Cultivating Cross-cultural Awareness-12

4.2 Culture-led Study-12

Chapter Five Conclusion-14

Reference-15