INVESTIGATION AND VALIDATION OF SENTENCE PARSING STRATEGIES:
A PSYCHOLINGUISTIC APPROACH
Gholam-Reza Abbasian1
 and Sahar Moeenian2
ABSTRACT
Having a proper insight into human cognition in sentence processing strategies, this
study explored the nature of sentence processing strategies in relation to language
proficiency levels. Facing the problem that why some EFL learners tend to parse
differently (i.e., use Minimal Attachment and Late Closure Strategies) and the need to
validate the suggested strategies were the motives behind this study. Receiving the PET,
some Iranian adult EFL learners were classified into three levels of proficiency. Three
level-based sentence comprehension tests along with a 'Think- Aloud Protocol' were
employed for data collection. Findings revealed not only the construct validity of both
strategies but also the level-dependent nature of them, moderate effect size on Late Closure strategy use and higher means on Late Closure strategy were revealed. Therefore,
certain parsing strategies are associated with language proficiency level proving the
fact that language proficiency level is an effective parameter as far as human cognition
in language processing in general and sentence processing in particular are concerned.
Moreover, not only is there relationship among language proficiency levels and the
strategy use but the nature of relationship varies depending on language proficiency
level and strategy type.
KEYWORDS: Language proficiency- Late Closure strategy- Minimal Attachment
strategy- Parsing- Validity