What is the relationship between reading prosody and reading comprehension in European Portuguese? Evidence from grades 2 to 5.

The relevance of reading prosody on reading comprehension has been theoretically proposed and empirically recognised. The present study aimed to investigate longitudinal and concurrent relationships between reading prosody and reading comprehension processes, beyond decoding and word reading efficiency. Two cohorts of Portuguese children, ranging different grade levels (grades 2 to 3 and 4 to 5), were tested. Reading prosody was assessed through a rating scale, and text reading comprehension and context fluency effect were used to measure effortful and effortless reading comprehension processes, respectively. Results showed no bidirectional longitudinal effects between reading prosody and reading comprehension processes. In contrast, they revealed a concurrent contribution of reading prosody to the measure that mainly captures the effortless processes of reading comprehension from grades 2 to 5 but not for effortful ones. Results also highlighted the key role of decoding and word reading efficiency in the relationship between reading prosody and reading comprehension. Highlights: What is already known about this topicProsody is an important component of oral reading fluency.Decoding is crucial for reading prosody and reading comprehension.Reading prosody is associated with reading comprehension. What this paper addsThe relation between reading prosody and reading comprehension may depend on grade level and may vary according to orthographic depth.Prosodic reading has a concurrent predictive role on the effortless processes of reading comprehension.There is no bidirectional links between reading prosody and reading comprehension in European Portuguese until fifth grade. Implications for theory, policy or practiceRegarding the relationship between reading prosody and reading comprehension, theory must take into account, beyond the grade level, the consistency level of the orthographic system.Instructional programmes must take into account the important role of decoding for achieving efficient reading.Learning to read in European Portuguese would benefit from reading texts for practice in reading fluency with prosody. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]