Manfred Pienemann proposed a theory about learners' ability to process linguistic elements in different sentence positions. What is the name of this theory?

• A. Processability theory
• B. Processing instruction
• C. Pattern practice drill
• D. Negotiation of form

Answer: (A)

Processability Theory, developed by Manfred Pienemann, explains how a learner’s real-time processing abilities shape what they can produce and where in a sentence those forms can appear. The key idea is that in order to form and interpret linguistic structures, learners must be able to manage dependencies and map form to meaning within their current processing capacity. As processing becomes more automatic and capable, learners can handle more complex elements and place them in different positions in the sentence. This yields a predictable sequence of acquisition: simpler, closer-to-immediate processing tasks come first, and more complex dependencies that require longer-distance relationships or flexible placement emerge later. So, when a theory specifically describing processing of linguistic elements across sentence positions is asked for, it is Processability Theory.