The Unity of Sentence Understanding and the Limits of the Linear Model (Ladder Understanding of Language How to Understand a Sentence)

Language is expressed consecutively, and it is natural to assume that understanding follows the same linear order. This paper argues that this assumption is mistaken. Although sentences are expressed in a linear way, they are not understood in the same way. When we reach the end of a sentence, we arrive at a single, unified understanding that cannot be explained as the mere accumulation of word-by-word meanings. This paper introduces the concept of entwined understanding units, which are understanding units larger than individual words that form during comprehension. The formation of these units introduces a vertical axis into language understanding, which the linear model cannot account for. To explain how and why these units form, the paper draws on the concept of mental work, grounded in our natural tendency toward less mental effort. The result is the ladder model of sentence understanding, proposed as an alternative to the linear model.