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Effectiveness of word order and grammatical markers as syntactic indicators of semantic relations in opaque input conditions

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Abstract

Using an artificial linguistic system an attempt was made: (1) to estimate the relative opacity between a meaning-form correspondence which would not interfere with the acquisition of a linguistic system and (2) to determine the relative effectiveness of word order and grammatical markers as syntactic indicators of semantic relations in less transparent input conditions. The results showed that syntax was induced even under 25% opaque conditions and that word order exhibited a slight tendency to be more effective than grammatical markers. Discussion emphasized the minimum amount of structural invariance necessary for a meaning-form mapping under opaque input conditions.

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Nagata, H. Effectiveness of word order and grammatical markers as syntactic indicators of semantic relations in opaque input conditions. J Psycholinguist Res 12, 157–169 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01067409

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