Relations Between Semantic and Syntactic Factors in the Structuring of Language

Past research has developed the " probe-latency technique " for assessing the structure of linguistic inputs. Results to date indicate that the probe-latency structure is primarily a function of syntactic relations in the input and is relatively independent of semantic characteristics of the stimulus material. The " question technique ", a second operational method, was developed as an approach to semantic processing. A study using both techniques is described in detail. The results of this study indicate that the question technique has promise as an approach to semantic processes. The study also gives further confirmation to the independence of semantic from syntactic processes.