💬 Why do we speak fluently without effort?

How is it that we can form new sentences in every conversation, with no apparent effort? A question that has long occupied scientists is now receiving an original answer. Recent work indeed suggests that our mastery of language relies on more immediate processes than classical theories implied.

Psychology researchers Morten H. Christiansen and Yngwie A. Nielsen explored this lead in a study published in Nature Human Behaviour. Their work challenges the idea that hierarchical grammar is essential to language. They rather argue that we commonly use pre-assembled word sequences, like reusable building blocks.


Traditionally, sentence structure is compared to a tree with branches. To illustrate their approach, the authors propose a different analogy: imagine LEGO bricks being combined to create shapes. Similarly, our minds would assemble frequent word groups, such as 'in the middle of' or 'I wonder if', without resorting to highly elaborate abstract rules. These elements then serve as a basis for constructing complete statements, somewhat like using ready-made modules.

Called non-constituent, these sequences do not correspond to classical grammatical units. Yet, they are omnipresent in our exchanges. Scientists have observed that even these linear patterns influence our comprehension, indicating that they are an integral part of our intuitive knowledge of language. Consequently, this observation enriches our understanding of how we master everyday speech.

To support their hypothesis, the team conducted eye-tracking experiments and analyzed telephone conversations. It emerges that when we encounter a word sequence we've already heard, we process it more quickly. This priming effect shows that these patterns are stored in memory and facilitate language production. In reality, our brain therefore relies on common repetitions to gain efficiency.

This perspective opens avenues for understanding how children learn to speak or how adults acquire a new language. If hierarchical syntax is not indispensable, the boundary between human language and animal communication systems might be less marked than previously thought. The researchers believe these discoveries could inspire new pedagogical approaches.

Thus, this study invites us to reconsider the foundations of our linguistic faculty. It shows that the simplicity of common usage patterns plays a key role, complementing established grammatical theories.