Acceso usuarios
Abdendi Ziti
This research examines the effect of connectives' position on the representation and thematic integration of coupled clauses, one of which expresses the cause and the other the effect.
Two types of connectives were used : since and then, which indicate a cause � expected effect relation (causal type), and although and however, which indicate a cause � unexpected effect relation (concessive type) .
Two experiments were conducted. Different measures were reading times for initial clause (RTIC) with a connective placed either at the beginning or at the end, recognition times for a word extracted from this clause (RTW) (experiment 1) or meaning judgment times (MJT) (experiment 2), and the reading times for the final clause (RTFC). Thirty-two students participated with 16 in each experiment.
The processing speed of clauses depends on the type of connective and on the task to be completed. The MJT are shorter when the connective is placed at the beginning of the initial clause. We propose that the connectives, devoid of virtual reference, provide the reader some processing instructions, which command and orient the cognitive processes necessary for comprehension. These instructions are reinforced by the identification of the connective at the beginning of the clause.
