Structural dependency

Structural dependency refers to the reliance of elements within a language on each other’s position and relationship for meaning and interpretation. In natural language, specific words and their grammatical roles—like subjects, verbs, and objects—depend on their position and connection to others. For example, swapping the order of words can change the meaning of a sentence. This concept helps linguists understand how sentences maintain clarity and coherence through organized structures, emphasizing that meaning often arises from the relationships among components rather than isolated words.