In:Profiling Autism Through Language: Lexicogrammar, neurocognition, and machine learning
Sumi Kato
[Not in series 246] 2026
► pp. 56–75
Chapter 5Rankshift avoidance and structural simplification in ASD
MLU, lexical density, and the role of working memory
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Article outline
- 5.1Overview
- 5.2What is rankshift?
- 5.3Hybrid approach to complex sentence annotation
- 5.4Examples of rankshifted clauses
- i.Reported clauses
- ii.Noun clauses
- iii.Adnominal clauses
- 5.5From the cognitive perspective
- 5.5.1Rankshift and working memory constraints
- 5.5.2Memory retention and lexicogrammatical development
- 5.5.3Rankshift avoidance and its pragmatic implications
- 5.5.4Long-term developmental implications
of working memory constraints
- 5.6MLU and lexical density as indicators of syntactic
and lexical simplification- 5.6.1Corpus-based measures of MLU and lexical density
- 5.6.2MLU measurement methodology
- 5.6.3Lexical density measurement methodology
- 5.6.4Quantitative overview of MLU and lexical density
- 5.6.5Interpretation and cognitive significance of MLU in ASD
- 5.6.6Lexical density as a measure of lexical richness
and communicative intent in ASD - 5.6.7Cognitive factors underlying MLU and lexical
density reduction in ASD- i.Working memory limitations
- ii.Social deficits
- 5.7Chapter conclusion
Note
