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Investigating the Effect of Structure Complexity on Students’ Recognition of the Subject Slot

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  • Fatmah Alqahtani

    (Assistant professor, Department of Applied Linguistics, College of Languages, Princess Nourah Bint AbdulRahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)

Abstract

The subject slot is a main part of any English sentence (Martha & Robert, 2012). The recognition of the subject slot is therefore a crucial step in understanding and comprehending a sentence. This paper studies the effect of the internal structure of the subject slot on its recognition by students learning English as a foreign language (EFL). The students are given written tests containing sentences with different subject structures. Those structures vary from simple to compound-complex. The results support the main hypothesis of the study: the degree of the complexity of the structure affects the students’ recognition of the subject slot of a sentence. The surprising finding of the study, however, is that a compound subject, whether simple or complex, is easier for the students to recognize than a non-compound complex subject structure. The findings of the study are intended to positively contribute to the process of teaching a language. Regarding the findings of this study, EFL instructors can draw their students’ attention to the different structures of a sentence. The students need to know that some parts of the sentence are to extend or add information to the slots of the sentence but not change it.

Suggested Citation

  • Fatmah Alqahtani, 2019. "Investigating the Effect of Structure Complexity on Students’ Recognition of the Subject Slot," International Journal of Linguistics, Literature and Translation, Al-Kindi Center for Research and Development, vol. 2(6), pages 77-82, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:alk:ijllt0:v:2:y:2019:i:6:id:482
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