Abstract
The present study explored comprehension of spoken sentences as a result of manipulations of sentence length and complexity. Young adult participants heard a series of sentences that varied in type (subject-relative and object-relative) and sentence complexity (6-word and 10-word). These sentences were further manipulated in complexity through the addition of prepositional phrases into varying points within the 10-word sentences (short noun-verb gap and long noun-verb gap). Response accuracy was subject to an ANOVA, which revealed significant main effects of sentence type and sentence complexity, with the effects moderated by a significant Sentence Type X Sentence Complexity interaction. Results support decreased comprehension accuracy for more complex sentences. Response latencies were subjected to an ANOVA, resulting in significant main effects of sentence type and sentence complexity, with effects moderated by a significant Sentence Type X Sentence Complexity interaction. Results suggest that for 6-word and 10-word long noun-verb gap sentences, increases in sentence complexity leads to increased response time, however 10-word short noun-verb gap sentences did not.