Inference and Reading in a Foriegn Language: Reflections on a Single Question of the Entrance Examination of Unicamp

The process of making inferences about unfamiliar words in a target language is illustrated by an analysis of responses to one question on the entrance examination in English as a second language at U Campinas, Brazil, requiring the candidate to attribute a meaning to meander, hurling, & dim in the context of a five-paragraph passage on a popular astronomy topic. Possible inferential paths provided by the text include direct lexical contrasts, oppositions of relevant word pairs, parallel constructions suggesting synonyms, associations with physics concepts, & reference to scientific data presented in familiar terms. Textual clues are available to activate discourse competence, world knowledge, & second-language competence. 8 References. Adapted from the source document