The influence of age and verb transitivity on written sentence production

ABSTRACT

In this paper we explore the influences of normal ageing and verb transitivity on sentence production. The underlying aim is to provide a foundation for further research on sentence production in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). We used a computer-based written sentence production task, designed to elicit intransitive, monotransitive and ditransitive sentences. Data was collected using keystroke logging, a technique to capture the entire typing process. Data of ninety healthy elderly was analysed focusing on the following writing process variables: time on task, production time and pause times. Results show that age influences time on task, pause time before sentences and within words. Verb transitivity influences time on task, production time and pause time between words. For pause time before sentences and between words, an interaction effect between age and verb transitivity was found as well. These results indicate that a follow-up study with AD patients should not attribute a slowdown in one of these variables to the disease in its entirety but should instead be compared with the slowdown in age-matched healthy peers.

KEYWORDS:

• Ageing
• verb transitivity
• sentence production
• writing processes
• Alzheimer’s disease

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank all elderly that were willing to free up some of their valuable time to participate in our experiment. We would also like to thank Johan Frid and Victoria Johansson for helping us with the development of a ScriptLog module for this study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The data and materials are available at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4661778.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Research Foundation Flanders [Aspirant 2016, reference number: 1173617N, PeopleSoft ID: 3330]