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Literacy at Work
Ultimate Native Language Attainment
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Tan Arda Gedik
Language:
English
Published/Copyright:
2026
About this book
Could learning to read and write affect speakers’ mental grammars? This book explores how literacy (or the lack thereof) shapes the comprehension and production of complex syntax among literate and illiterate speakers. Through innovative research, it reveals that native speakers do not always converge on the same grammatical structures, highlighting the pivotal role of written language in facilitating this acquisition. For those without literacy experience, nonverbal reasoning ability plays a crucial role in compensating for the lack of literacy when dealing with (complex) syntax. Literacy at Work challenges conventional views and offers fresh insights into the nature of linguistic competence.
Author / Editor information
Tan Arda Gedik, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany, & Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey.
Topics
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Frontmatter
I -
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Dedication
V -
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Preface
VII -
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Contents
IX -
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1 Introduction
1 -
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2 The context of the study
12 -
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3 Individual differences in native language learning
17 -
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4 Literacy and literacy effects
32 -
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5 Constructions tested in this study
49 -
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6 Hypotheses
64 -
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7 Methods
66 -
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8 Overview of cognitive and reading performance
73 -
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9 Experiment 1: The NPs containing noun complement clauses task (NP task)
78 -
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10 Experiment 2: The picture selection task
90 -
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11 Experiment 3: The picture-based sentence elicitation task
109 -
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12 Overview of findings & discussion
122 -
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13 Implications for language acquisition and beyond
139 -
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14 Reflections on the journey: Working with illiterate speakers
154 -
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15 Conclusion & future directions
158 -
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Appendix
165 -
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References
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Index
Publishing information
Pages and Images/Illustrations in book
eBook published on:
March 16, 2026
eBook ISBN:
9783111679228
Hardcover
planned publication:
April 29, 2026
Hardcover ISBN:
9783111678795
Pages and Images/Illustrations in book
Front matter:
11
Main content:
189
Illustrations:
3
Coloured Illustrations:
12
Tables:
26
Keywords for this book
Literacy; Grammatical comprehension; Complex syntax; Competence; Metalinguistic awareness; Nonverbal IQ
Audience(s) for this book
Scholars & students of Cognitive Linguistics, Psycholinguistics; Psychologists, Cognitive Scientists in literacy and L1
Safety & product resources
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Manufacturer information:
Walter de Gruyter GmbH
Genthiner Straße 13
10785 Berlin
productsafety@degruyterbrill.com
