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In:Mathematical Modelling in Linguistics and Text Analysis: Theory and applications
Edited by Adam Pawłowski, Sheila Embleton, Jan Mačutek and Aris Xanthos
[Current Issues in Linguistic Theory 370] 2025
► pp. 60–69

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Distributional properties of linear dependency segments

 | University of Ostrava
ORCiD logo with link | Slovak Academy of Sciences | Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra
ORCiD logo with link | Masaryk University
Published online: 13 October 2025
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https://doi.org/10.1075/cilt.370.05nog
Abstract
The linear dependency segment is a new language unit which combines word order with syntactic dependency structure. It has been demonstrated that it obeys the Menzerath-Altmann law. In this paper, we show that its rank-frequency distribution and length distribution also behave analogously to other, more traditional linguistic units. The linear dependency segment thus seems to be an intermediate unit between word and clause.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Linear dependency segment
  • 3.Language material
  • 4.Results
    • 4.1Rank-frequency distribution
    • 4.2Length distribution
  • 5.Conclusion
  • Notes
  • References
References (30)
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