This study examined the effect on comprehension of the number of propositions in a piece of spoken discourse, words per minute (WPM) rate, and presentation of pictures with the discourse. Results indicated better comprehension at lower WPM and when pictures were presented. No significant interactions were found. (14 references) (MES)

Defining schemas as specific representations of world knowledge, this paper contends that schema theory offers a promising approach toward the development of a comprehensive theory of communication. The paper traces the development of schema theory, reviews current literature on the subject, and points out its potential for use in future…

Hierarchies have been identified as determinants of constituent order. The set of such hierarchies is reviewed and ranked as determinants of NP sequencing in English. The effect of a hierarchy in other languages is compared to and contrasted with what is found in English. (Author/LMO)