How does syntactic priming reduce computational load in conversation?

Syntactic priming reduces computational load in conversation primarily by using similar grammatical structures. When speakers use a specific syntactic structure, such as a particular type of sentence arrangement or grammatical form, it can influence subsequent speech both for themselves and for their conversational partners. This phenomenon occurs because once a grammatical structure is activated, it becomes more accessible for later use, allowing speakers to formulate sentences more quickly and efficiently.

This efficiency occurs because the speaker does not need to analyze and construct a new syntactic structure from scratch; instead, they can rely on the pre-activated structure. It leads to smoother dialogue, as the cognitive demands involved in sentence formulation are lowered — both for the speaker and the listener, who can process the conversation more easily when familiar structures are employed. Syntactic priming contributes to fluency and coherence in communication, streamlining the conversation process.