Processing Italian relative clauses: working memory span and word order effects on RTs

J Gen Psychol. 2009 Oct;136(4):387-406. doi: 10.1080/00221300903266671.

Abstract

In this study, the authors aim to clarify whether the subject-object asymmetry in relative clause comprehension is due to the use of parsing strategies (Active Filler Theory) or to a greater memory load generated by object sentences. Two experiments investigate how individual differences in working memory span may influence the reading times of relative sentences in Italian, a language characterized by a flexible structure. The results of Experiment 1 indicate that object extraction is more complex than subject extraction when sentences have a canonical structure. Furthermore, low-span participants have particular difficulties with object relative sentence comprehension. The results of Experiment 2 show that subject-relative clauses with uncanonical structures are more complex to understand than object-relative clauses, and low-span participants have more difficulties than high-span participants in elaborating both subject and object relative clauses. These data seem to be coherent with the Active Filler Theory.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Attention
  • Comprehension*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Individuality
  • Italy
  • Language*
  • Male
  • Memory, Short-Term*
  • Psycholinguistics
  • Reaction Time*
  • Reading*
  • Semantics*
  • Young Adult