Bridging the Gap between Brain and Syntax. A Case for a Role of the Phonological Loop

Although the main inspiration of the theory of phases is minimization of the computational burden for the hearer/speaker, work on how the upper limits of computational resources can affect the organization of syntactic structures does not abound. In this paper we aim at partially filling this gap. The most established model of working memory (WM) is Baddeley and Hitch’s. WM is the limited-capacity system where information is stored and manipulated during an ongoing cognitive activity. The component of WM most relevant for language is phonological short-term memory, or STM, since language comprehension must involve a temporary storage of the linguistic information. A crucial question is whether natural language processing relies on STM as identified in the Baddeley and Hitch’s model. The prevailing answer in the literature is negative. In this paper, we argue that comprehension of structurally complex sentences does rely on STM as identified in the Baddeley and Hitch’s model