Why is fluency important to comprehension?

Answer 1

Fluency in reading is important to comprehension because it makes a more natural pacing to processing language. Readers who have to stop frequently to sound out words lose the flow of language and, thus, have a harder time comprehending. Choppy or monotone readers tend to not know how to group words into natural phrases or use the normal pitch changes we use when speaking. Comprehension can still happen, but typically choppy and monotone readers have a difficult time connecting meaning to written language. Once readers have some "automaticity" or can read words with ease, the connection to language and meaning tends to improve.