Ordering clauses: The effects of iconicity, frame structure and information structure on text processing

Three ordering principles are relevant to the clause order within complex sentences: iconicity (chronological vs. reverse order), frame structure (main clause – subordinate clause or vice versa), and information structure(given-new vs. new-given). In an eye-tracking experiment among 80 adults, we investigated the effect of these ordering principles on the reading process. No single ordering principle facilitated reading irrespective of the other two ordering principles. Rather, readers were sensitive to specific combinations of the ordering principles.