According to the Simple View of Reading, what are the two essential components of comprehension?

The Simple View of Reading posits that reading comprehension is the product of two essential components: decoding and language comprehension. Decoding refers to the ability to translate written words into sounds, which is critical for recognizing words and understanding their meanings. Language comprehension involves the capacity to understand spoken language, including vocabulary, syntax, and the overall structure of language. Together, these components allow a reader not only to read the words on a page but also to understand and derive meaning from the text.

This framework underscores that both skills must be developed for a child to become a proficient reader. Decoding without comprehension will lead to word reading without understanding, while comprehension without decoding means that a learner cannot access the text in order to process the information effectively. Hence, the focus on both decoding and language comprehension is what makes this answer the correct one in understanding the basis of reading comprehension as described by the Simple View of Reading.