APA 7 for Psycholinguistics & Syntax–Morphology

(A Practical Guide for Pakistani Linguistics Scholars)

Outline: APA 7 for Psycholinguistics & Syntax–Morphology

for Phil/PhD scholars in linguistics, psycholinguistics, syntax, morphology, and language teaching

with Examples from English, Urdu, Saraiki, Punjabi, Pothwari, HindkoI & checklists, exercises, and examples

Part I. Foundations of APA & Scientific Writing in Linguistics

1: APA 7 as a Scientific Writing System

What is APA style? Purpose & history
Why APA is ideal for linguistics & psycholinguistics research
APA vs MLA vs Chicago: key differences
Cognitive & psycholinguistic perspective: clarity, consistency, reduced processing load
How APA prevents plagiarism

Exercises: Identify APA vs non-APA citations

2: APA & Research Thinking

APA as a thinking framework, not just formatting
Linking theory, data, and writing
How APA structures cognitive load for examiners
Practical application in psycholinguistics: participant studies, linguistic data

Exercise: Map a research idea to APA structure

Part II. Core APA Skills

3: In-Text Citations

Author-date system explained
Paraphrasing vs quoting
One, two, three or more authors
Organizational authors (HEC, UNESCO, WHO)
Secondary citations & best practices
Common mistakes in Pakistani MPhil theses

Field-specific examples:

Psycholinguistic experiments
Syntax & morphology papers
Multilingual datasets

Exercise: Convert sample sentences to APA in-text citations

4: Reference Lists

Reference list as a research database
Alphabetical order, italics, capitalization, spacing
Books, journal articles, edited volumes, dissertations
Online sources, corpora, and datasets
Pitfalls of Google Scholar APA output

Exercise: Correct an anonymized MPhil reference list

Part III. APA for Linguistic Data

5: Syntax & Morphology Examples

Presenting trees, dependency graphs, and sentence structures
Morpheme segmentation, interlinear glossing
Handling ungrammaticality (*, ??)
Italics, quotation marks, numbered examples
Transliteration vs translation

Languages covered: Urdu, Saraiki, Punjabi, Pothwari, Hindko

Exercise: Format 5 sample sentences in APA-compliant style

6: Psycholinguistic Experiments

Reporting participants, materials, procedure, and results
Tables & figures (reaction time, accuracy, frequency)
Reporting statistics APA-style (means, SD, p-values)
Ethical citation of instruments and stimuli
Avoiding self-plagiarism

Exercise: Format a mini-results table from a sample psycholinguistics experiment

Part IV. Pakistani Language Context & Multilingual Issues

7: Pakistani Languages & APA

Citing non-English sources
Transliteration conventions
Romanization vs native script
Ethical citation of indigenous research
Referencing local journals, theses, and field data

Exercise: Convert Urdu/Saraiki/Punjabi sources into APA

8: Common APA Errors in Pakistani Theses

Over-quoting theorists
Weak paraphrasing
Inconsistent years & authors
Fake or broken DOIs
Mixing APA 6 & APA 7
Poor abstracts & headings

Activity: Error-hunting from anonymized theses

Part V. Tools, AI & Publication Readiness

9: APA Tools & AI Assistance

Reference managers: Zotero, Mendeley
ChatGPT for paraphrasing & ethics
AI risks in APA & plagiarism detection
Human judgment vs automation

Exercise: Import, correct, and export 10 references using Zotero

10: Examiner Psychology & Publishing

What NUML/HEC examiners check in theses
APA mistakes that trigger revisions
From thesis chapter to journal article
Checklist for final submission

Exercise: Self-check your draft chapter against APA checklist

Part VI. Practice & Review

11: Integrated Practice

Mini-thesis chapter with APA-compliant text, citations, and references
Tables, figures, glossing examples included
Peer-review and self-assessment exercises

12: Summary & Final Checklist

Recap of all APA essentials
Field-specific tips for psycholinguistics and Pakistani languages
Ready-to-use checklist for students and scholars

APA 7 for Psycholinguistics & Syntax–Morphology

Part I. Foundations of APA & Scientific Writing in Linguistics

1. What is APA Style? Purpose & History

APA style is a set of formal guidelines for writing and citing scholarly work, developed by the American Psychological Association. It is widely used in social sciences, education, and linguistics because it emphasizes clarity, consistency, and ethical attribution of ideas.

Purpose of APA style:

Standardizes academic writing across publications.
Makes research clear and reproducible.
Gives proper credit to original authors.
Reduces ambiguity and improves readability for examiners and peer reviewers.

Brief History:

1929: First APA style guidelines published in a journal article to standardize psychological research.

1952–2019: Multiple revisions; 7th edition (2019) is current.

7th edition highlights: Simplified headings, clearer student vs professional rules, inclusion of DOIs and URLs, and guidance for citing digital and multilingual sources.

Reference: American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.

2. Why APA is Ideal for Linguistics & Psycholinguistics Research

APA style is particularly suited for linguistics because it allows scholars to:

Report experiments clearly: participant details, stimuli, procedure, and results.

Present structured linguistic data: examples, glosses, trees, and tables.

Ensure reproducibility: citations and references allow others to verify findings.

Reduce plagiarism: proper attribution of theoretical frameworks and experimental studies.

Align with cognitive science and psycholinguistics: clear structure mirrors how readers process and understand complex data.

Example (Psycholinguistic study):

Ali (2021) investigated Urdu sentence processing using eye-tracking, showing faster comprehension for canonical word orders. Proper APA citation allows readers to locate and verify the original experiment.

3. APA vs MLA vs Chicago: Key Differences

Feature	APA	MLA	Chicago
Primary use	Social sciences, psychology, linguistics	Humanities, literature	History, general academia
In-text citation	Author–date system	Author–page system	Notes/bibliography or author–date
Reference list	References (alphabetical)	Works Cited	Bibliography or References
Emphasis	Clarity, reproducibility, concise reporting	Literary analysis	Historical sourcing, footnotes
Tables & figures	Standardized, numbered, labeled	Less standardized	Detailed captions

Tip for linguists: APA works best for psycholinguistics and syntax because experiments, tables, and cross-linguistic examples need structured reporting that MLA or Chicago does not provide.

References:

American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.

Modern Language Association. (2016). MLA handbook (8th ed.). New York, NY: MLA.

Turabian, K. (2018). A manual for writers of research papers, theses, and dissertations (9th ed.). Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.

4. Cognitive & Psycholinguistic Perspective

APA style improves readability and processing by:

Clarity: Standard headings and citation format reduce ambiguity.

Consistency: Predictable format lets readers focus on content, not style.

Reduced cognitive load: Structured presentation of methods, data, and discussion allows examiners to evaluate work efficiently.

Example:

Instead of writing:

“Many studies on Urdu syntax show varying results (Ali 2021; Khan 2020; Rehman et al., 2019)”

APA organizes it as:

(Ali, 2021; Khan, 2020; Rehman, Ahmed, & Fatima, 2019), with consistent in-text citation format and corresponding references.

5. How APA Prevents Plagiarism

In-text citations: Attribute every idea or data point to its original source.

Reference list: Provides full source details for verification.

Encourages paraphrasing: Reduces copying while maintaining integrity.

Tip: Using APA properly shows academic honesty and enhances credibility.

Exercises: Identify APA vs Non-APA Citations

Task: Review the following citations. Mark ✅ for correct APA, ❌ for incorrect APA.

(Ali, 2021) conducted a study on Urdu sentence processing. ✅

Ali (2021) did research on Urdu sentence processing. ❌ (missing proper parentheses for APA style)

(Khan & Rehman, 2020; Ali, 2021) found significant differences in comprehension. ✅

Khan & Rehman stated that sentence comprehension varies in different languages (2020). ❌ (year placement is wrong)

Reflection:

What makes a citation APA-compliant?

How does proper citation help in avoiding plagiarism?

Outcome:

By the end of this chapter, learners will:

Understand the history, purpose, and scope of APA 7.

Recognize why APA is particularly useful for linguistics and psycholinguistics research.

Distinguish APA from MLA and Chicago styles.

Appreciate the cognitive and ethical benefits of APA.

Be able to identify APA-compliant vs non-compliant citations.

2: APA & Research Thinking

1. APA as a Thinking Framework, Not Just Formatting

While APA 7 is often viewed as a set of rules for formatting, it is more accurately a framework for structuring scholarly thought.

In linguistics and psycholinguistics, APA helps researchers:

Organize ideas logically

Integrate theory, evidence, and interpretation

Communicate findings clearly to readers and examiners

Key insight:

APA guides the researcher’s cognitive process: it imposes structure so ideas are processed efficiently by both writer and reader.

Example:

When writing a study on Saraiki plural morpheme processing, APA dictates the logical flow:

Introduction: Theoretical background (Ali, 2021; Khan, 2020)

Method: Participants, materials, procedure

Results: Tables and statistical analysis

Discussion: Interpretation and link to prior research

This structure is more than style—it mirrors scientific reasoning.

2. Linking Theory, Data, and Writing

APA style promotes clear connections between theoretical claims and empirical data:

Theory: What concepts or frameworks inform your research?

Data: What experiments, observations, or corpus evidence support your investigation?

Writing: How do you present and interpret these ideas so they are credible and reproducible?

Example:

In a psycholinguistic study on Punjabi word-order processing, theory predicts faster comprehension for canonical orders (Chomsky, 1957; Ali, 2020). Eye-tracking data show shorter fixation times on canonical sentences, confirming the theoretical expectation (Hussain, 2021).

APA ensures that the citation, result, and interpretation are seamlessly integrated, reducing ambiguity.

3. How APA Structures Cognitive Load for Examiners

APA’s standardized format reduces the mental effort required by examiners:

Headings & subheadings: Guide readers through logical sections

Tables & figures: Present complex data concisely

Consistent citation format: Helps readers verify sources quickly

Structured discussion & results: Reduces need for examiners to mentally reorganize your ideas

Psycholinguistic insight: Humans process predictable structures faster. APA leverages this principle by making academic writing intuitively navigable.

Example:

Instead of a free-flowing paragraph mixing theory, data, and citations, APA organizes content like:

Introduction → theory

Method → participants & stimuli

Results → tables, statistics

Discussion → link to prior studies

This reduces examiner cognitive load and highlights your analytical rigor.

4. Practical Application in Psycholinguistics

APA can be directly applied to experimental and observational research in linguistics:

Participant Studies:

Include age, gender, native language, number of participants

Example: “Twenty-five Saraiki speakers aged 18–25 participated in the reaction time study” (Ali, 2022).

Stimuli & Materials:

Present experimental sentences, words, or morphemes

Number and label each stimulus clearly (APA style encourages numbering examples)

Data & Tables:

Use APA 7–formatted tables for reaction times, accuracy, or frequency data

Ensure consistent labeling, units, and notes

Analysis & Interpretation:

Link results to prior research using proper in-text citations

Compare cross-linguistic data (e.g., Saraiki vs Urdu vs Punjabi)

Example:

Sentence Type	Mean Reaction Time (ms)	SD
Canonical	450	35
Non-Canonical	520	42

Table 1. Reaction times for canonical and non-canonical Saraiki sentences.

This concise presentation saves examiner effort and maintains scientific rigor.

Exercise: Map a Research Idea to APA Structure

Task: Take this sample research idea:

Investigate how Hindko speakers process verb agreement in real-time reading.

Map it into APA-style sections:

Title: Real-Time Processing of Verb Agreement in Hindko Speakers

Abstract: 150–200 words summary of hypothesis, method, results, and conclusion

Introduction: Discuss theoretical background, link to previous studies (Ali, 2020; Hussain, 2021)

Method: Participants, materials (stimuli), procedure

Results: Tables/figures showing reaction times and accuracy

Discussion: Interpret results and compare with theory

References: List all cited studies in APA 7th edition format

Reflection Questions:

How does APA help organize your ideas?

How does the structured format support replication and ethical reporting?

Can you identify where citations and tables enhance clarity?

Part II. Core APA Skills

3: In-Text Citations

1. Author–Date System Explained

APA 7 uses the author–date citation system, which helps readers quickly locate sources in the reference list.

Basic format:

Parenthetical citation: (Author, Year)

Narrative citation: Author (Year)

Examples:

Parenthetical: (Ali, 2021)

Narrative: Ali (2021) investigated Saraiki sentence processing.

Purpose:

Attribute ideas properly

Connect theory, data, and analysis

Maintain clarity and reproducibility

Reference:

American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.

2. Paraphrasing vs Quoting

Paraphrasing: Restate an author’s ideas in your own words. Preferred in academic writing.

Example (Urdu syntax):

Original: “Urdu exhibits head-final structures in verb phrases.” (Khan, 2019)

Paraphrase: Khan (2019) notes that Urdu verb phrases generally follow a head-final structure.

Quoting: Use exact words from the source, with page number.

Example:

“Urdu exhibits head-final structures in verb phrases” (Khan, 2019, p. 23)

Tip: Over-quoting is a common mistake in Pakistani MPhil theses. Paraphrasing demonstrates understanding and avoids plagiarism.

3. One, Two, Three or More Authors

Rules:

One author: (Ali, 2021)

Two authors: (Khan & Rehman, 2020)

Three or more authors: (Hussain et al., 2021)

Narrative form:

Ali (2021) …

Khan and Rehman (2020) …

Hussain et al. (2021) …

Example in psycholinguistics:

Reaction time studies show faster comprehension for canonical word order (Hussain et al., 2021).

4. Organizational Authors

Some studies are authored by organizations like HEC, UNESCO, or WHO. APA requires full name first, then abbreviation in parentheses for subsequent citations.

Example:

First citation: (Higher Education Commission [HEC], 2020)

Subsequent citations: (HEC, 2020)

Multilingual research:

(UNESCO, 2018) – e.g., multilingual literacy report

5. Secondary Citations & Best Practices

A secondary citation occurs when you cite a source mentioned in another source. Use sparingly.

Format: (Original Author, Year, as cited in Secondary Author, Year)

Example:

Chomsky’s theory of Universal Grammar (1957, as cited in Ali, 2020) emphasizes innate linguistic structures.

Tip: Always try to locate the original source before relying on secondary citations.

6. Common Mistakes in Pakistani MPhil Theses

Missing years in citations
Mixing narrative and parenthetical styles incorrectly
Overusing quotations instead of paraphrasing
Inconsistent author lists for multiple authors
Citing sources not listed in the reference list

Example of common error:

Ali, Khan & Rehman 2020 ❌

Correct: (Ali, Khan, & Rehman, 2020) ✅

7. Field-Specific Examples

Psycholinguistic experiments:

Parenthetical: (Ali, 2021; Hussain et al., 2021)
Narrative: Ali (2021) found… Hussain et al. (2021) confirmed…

Syntax & morphology papers:

Discussing agreement patterns: (Khan, 2019; Malik, 2020)

Multilingual datasets:

Cross-linguistic comparisons: (Hussain et al., 2021; Ali & Rehman, 2020)

Tip: Use semicolons for multiple sources in a single parenthetical citation, alphabetized by author surname.

8. Exercise: Convert Sample Sentences to APA In-Text Citations

Task: Rewrite the following sentences in proper APA 7 in-text format:

Ali conducted a study on Saraiki plural morphemes in 2021.
Khan and Rehman studied Urdu sentence processing in 2020.
Hussain, Ahmed, and Fatima investigated Punjabi syntax in 2021.
Chomsky’s 1957 theory is discussed in Ali 2020.
UNESCO (2018) published a multilingual literacy report.

Answer Key:

(Ali, 2021)
(Khan & Rehman, 2020)
(Hussain et al., 2021)
Chomsky’s theory of Universal Grammar (1957, as cited in Ali, 2020)
(UNESCO, 2018)

Reflection Questions:

Which sentences use narrative form?
How do you handle more than three authors?
How does APA improve clarity for cross-linguistic research?

Outcome:

By the end of this chapter, learners will be able to:

Apply the author–date system correctly for one, two, or multiple authors
Distinguish between paraphrasing and quoting
Handle organizational and secondary citations
Avoid common citation mistakes in Pakistani MPhil theses
Implement APA citations in psycholinguistic, syntactic, and multilingual research

4: Reference Lists

1. Reference List as a Research Database

A reference list is not just a formality, it is a research database that allows readers to:

Verify your sources
Trace the origin of theories, methods, and findings
Explore related research for further study

In linguistics, especially psycholinguistics, a well-formatted reference list ensures that:

Experimental results can be cross-checked
Language-specific examples (Urdu, Saraiki, Punjabi, Pothwari, Hindko) are clearly cited
Multilingual or cross-linguistic research remains transparent

Example:

Ali, S. (2021). Real-time sentence processing in Saraiki speakers. Islamabad: National Linguistics Press.

2. Alphabetical Order, Italics, Capitalization, Spacing

APA 7 rules for reference lists:

Alphabetical by first author’s surnameHanging indent: First line flush left, subsequent lines indented 0.5 inch
Italics: Book titles, journal names, volume numbers
Capitalization:Sentence case for titles: Real-time sentence processing in Saraiki speakers
Title case for journals: Journal of Psycholinguistic Research
Spacing: Double-space all entries

Example of Proper Formatting:

Journal article:

Hussain, R., Ahmed, F., & Malik, T. (2021). Verb agreement processing in Punjabi. Journal of Psycholinguistic Research, 50(3), 245–260. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10936-021-09789-2

Book:

Khan, A. (2019). Urdu syntax: Morphology and sentence structure. Lahore: Linguistics Press.

Edited volume chapter:

Rehman, S. (2020). Morphological patterns in Hindko. In M. Ali & T. Malik (Eds.), Studies in South Asian linguistics (pp. 45–67). Islamabad: National Linguistics Press.

3. Types of Sources

Books: Full title italicized, publisher included.

Journal Articles: Italicize journal name and volume; include DOI if available.

Edited Volumes / Chapters: Include editors (Eds.), book title, page range.

Dissertations / Theses:

Ali, S. (2020). Syntax acquisition in Saraiki children (Unpublished MPhil thesis). National University of Modern Languages, Islamabad.

Online Sources / Corpora / Datasets: Include URL or DOI:

Hussain, R. (2021). Saraiki morphosyntactic corpus [Dataset]. https://doi.org/10.1234/smc2021

4. Pitfalls of Google Scholar APA Output

Google Scholar often misformats author lists, capitalization, or italics

DOI may be missing or incorrect

Multiple authors may be truncated incorrectly

Always verify each reference manually against APA 7 rules

Example of common Google Scholar error:

Hussain, R et al 2021 verb agreement processing in punjabi journal of psycholinguistic research 50(3) 245-260

Corrected APA 7 version:

Hussain, R., Ahmed, F., & Malik, T. (2021). Verb agreement processing in Punjabi. Journal of Psycholinguistic Research, 50(3), 245–260. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10936-021-09789-2

5. Exercise: Correct an Anonymized MPhil Reference List

Task: Fix the errors in the following list according to APA 7:

Ali S 2021 Real time sentence processing in Saraiki speakers Islamabad National Linguistics Press
Khan A 2019 Urdu Syntax: Morphology and Sentence Structure Lahore Linguistics Press
Hussain R, Ahmed F, Malik T 2021 Verb agreement processing in Punjabi Journal of Psycholinguistic Research 50(3) 245-260

Answer Key:

Ali, S. (2021). Real-time sentence processing in Saraiki speakers. Islamabad: National Linguistics Press.
Khan, A. (2019). Urdu syntax: Morphology and sentence structure. Lahore: Linguistics Press.
Hussain, R., Ahmed, F., & Malik, T. (2021). Verb agreement processing in Punjabi. Journal of Psycholinguistic Research, 50(3), 245–260. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10936-021-09789-2

Reflection Questions:

Which formatting rules did you apply?
How does APA formatting improve the readability and credibility of your thesis?
How would you handle a dataset or online corpus in the reference list?

Outcome:

By the end of this chapter, learners will:

Understand the reference list as a research database
Apply APA 7 rules for books, journals, chapters, theses, and datasets
Correct common errors in Pakistani MPhil reference lists
Avoid relying solely on Google Scholar outputs
Ensure clarity, reproducibility, and academic integrity in references

Part III. APA for Linguistic Data

5: Syntax & Morphology Examples in APA 7

1. Presenting Trees, Dependency Graphs, and Sentence Structures

In linguistics, visual representation of syntax is essential for clarity. APA 7 allows clear labeling and referencing of figures.

Key Guidelines:

Number all figures sequentially (Figure 1, Figure 2, etc.)
Provide descriptive captions
Cite sources if trees/graphs are adapted from previous work

Example – Syntax Tree (Urdu sentence):

Sentence:

Ali ne kitaab parhi.

(Ali-ERG book read-PERF)

APA Figure Caption:

Figure 1. Syntax tree for the Urdu sentence Ali ne kitaab parhi (adapted from Khan, 2019).

Tip: Use consistent font and line thickness; APA requires figures to be legible and self-explanatory.

2. Morpheme Segmentation and Interlinear Glossing

Interlinear glossing is widely used in morphology to show word structure and meaning.

APA Guidelines:

Use italics for native words
Number examples sequentially: (1), (2), etc.
Align morphemes and glosses clearly

Example – Saraiki Verb:

maiN khānā khā-iyā

1SG.NOM food eat-PERF

“I ate the food.”

Note: Italicize the original words (maiN, khānā, khā-iyā), leave gloss and translation in plain text.

3. Handling Ungrammaticality

Use “*” for ungrammatical sentences
Use “??” for marginally acceptable or questionable sentences
Include a note in caption or text to explain notation

Example – Punjabi Sentence:

*Mujhe kal bazaar gaya.
Ungrammatical: 1SG.ACC yesterday market go-PAST
??O ladka kitaab parhda hai.
Marginally acceptable: He boy book reads AUX

APA Tip: Explain symbols in figure notes or within the text.

4. Italics, Quotation Marks, and Numbered Examples

Italics: Use for words in original language (kitaab, khānā)

Quotation marks: Use for glosses or literal translation only when necessary

Numbering examples: (1), (2), (3)… sequentially for easy referencing in text

Example – Numbered Syntax Example (Hindko):

Main kitaab parhi.

1SG.NOM book read-PERF

“I read the book.”

Tu khānā khā.

2SG.NOM food eat-IMP

“You eat the food.”

Reference in text: “As shown in examples (1) and (2), Hindko exhibits SOV order consistently.”

5. Transliteration vs Translation

Transliteration: Represent native script in Latin letters (MaiN kitab parh rahaa huuN)
Translation: Provide meaning in English (“I am reading a book”)
APA Tip: Always include both for clarity in multilingual research

Example – Saraiki:

Transliteration: MaiN kitaab parh rahaa huuN
Gloss: 1SG.NOM book read-PROG be-PRS
Translation: “I am reading a book.”
APA-style sentence in text: MaiN kitaab parh rahaa huuN (1SG.NOM book read-PROG be-PRS, “I am reading a book”) demonstrates progressive aspect in Saraiki.

6. Languages Covered

Urdu, Saraiki, Punjabi, Pothwari, Hindko
Ensure consistent formatting across languages
Use native orthography for clarity when necessary, but provide transliteration and translation

7. Exercise: Format 5 Sample Sentences in APA-Compliant Style

Task: Convert the following sentences into APA 7–compliant examples with numbering, italics, glossing, and translation.

Sentences (to format):

Ali ne kitaab parhi (Urdu)
MaiN kitaab parh rahaa huuN (Saraiki)
Tu khānā khā (Punjabi)
O ladka kitaab parhda hai (Punjabi – marginal)
Main kitaab likh raha hoon (Hindko)

Example Solution:

Ali ne kitaab parhi.

Ali-ERG book read-PERF

“Ali read the book.”

MaiN kitaab parh rahaa huuN.

1SG.NOM book read-PROG be-PRS

“I am reading a book.”

Tu khānā khā.

2SG.NOM food eat-IMP

“You eat the food.”

??O ladka kitaab parhda hai.

He boy book reads AUX

“The boy reads the book.” (marginal acceptability)

Main kitaab likh raha hoon.

1SG.NOM book write-PROG be-PRS

“I am writing a book.”

Reflection Questions:

Did you italicize native words consistently?
Did you number examples sequentially?
How does glossing improve clarity for cross-linguistic readers?
Are marginal/ungrammatical sentences clearly marked?

Outcome:

By the end of this chapter, learners will:

Present syntax trees, dependency graphs, and sentence structures in APA 7 format
Use morpheme segmentation and interlinear glossing properly
Handle ungrammatical and marginal sentences clearly
Apply italics, quotation marks, and numbering rules consistently
Format Urdu, Saraiki, Punjabi, Pothwari, Hindko sentences for academic writing

Exercise: Format 5 Sample Sentences in APA Style

Sentences (to format):

Ali ne kitaab parhi (Urdu)
MaiN kitaab parh rahaa huuN (Saraiki)
Tu khānā khā (Punjabi)
O ladka kitaab parhda hai (Punjabi – marginal)
Main kitaab likh raha hoon (Hindko)

APA-Compliant Formatting Solution

(1) Urdu – Canonical sentence

Ali ne kitaab parhi.

Ali-ERG book read-PERF

“Ali read the book.”

(2) Saraiki – Progressive aspect

2. MaiN kitaab parh rahaa huuN.

1SG.NOM book read-PROG be-PRS

“I am reading a book.”

(3) Punjabi – Imperative sentence

3. Tu khānā khā.

2SG.NOM food eat-IMP

“You eat the food.”

(4) Punjabi – Marginal acceptability

4. ??O ladka kitaab parhda hai.

He boy book reads AUX

“The boy reads the book.” (marginal acceptability)

(5) Hindko – Progressive aspect

5. Main kitaab likh raha hoon.

1SG.NOM book write-PROG be-PRS

“I am writing a book.”

APA Tips Applied Here

Italicization: Native words (Ali, kitaab, parhi) are italicized.

Numbering: Examples are sequentially numbered (1–5) for reference in text.

Glossing: Interlinear morpheme-by-morpheme gloss provided under each native sentence.

Translation: English translation in quotation marks under gloss.

Ungrammaticality: Marginal or ungrammatical sentences marked with `*` or `??` and explained in parentheses.

Reflection Questions for Students:

Why is numbering important for referencing multiple examples in a paper?
How does glossing improve understanding for cross-linguistic readers?
What symbols indicate ungrammaticality or marginality, and why are they needed?
How do italics and quotation marks enhance APA-compliant clarity?

6: Psycholinguistic Experiments in APA 7

1. Reporting Participants, Materials, Procedure, and Results

In psycholinguistics, APA 7 emphasizes clear, reproducible reporting. Standard sections include:

Participants:

Number, age, gender, language background, selection criteria
Example:
Twenty-five Saraiki-speaking university students (ages 18–25, 12 male, 13 female) participated voluntarily in the study (Ali, 2021).

Materials:

Linguistic stimuli, tasks, experimental software, or datasets
Example:
Stimuli consisted of 40 Urdu sentences varying in word order (SOV vs OSV), presented using PsychoPy software (Peirce et al., 2019).

Procedure:

Step-by-step description to allow replication
Example:
Participants read sentences on a computer screen while their eye movements were recorded. Each trial lasted 5 seconds.

Results:

Present data in tables, figures, or descriptive statistics
Include mean, SD, p-values for quantitative data

2. Tables & Figures

APA 7 allows clear presentation of psycholinguistic results:

Table Guidelines:

Number tables sequentially: Table 1, Table 2…
Include title in italics
Include units and brief notes if needed

Example Table – Reaction Time (Saraiki SOV vs OSV):

Sentence Type	Mean RT (ms)	SD
SOV	450	35
OSV	520	42

Table 1

Mean reaction times (RT) and standard deviations (SD) for Saraiki sentences with SOV and OSV word order.

Figure Guidelines:

Number figures: Figure 1, Figure 2…
Provide descriptive captions and legends
Cite source if adapted

Example – Eye-tracking Figure Caption:

Figure 1. Fixation durations for SOV vs OSV sentences in Saraiki participants (adapted from Ali, 2021).

3. Reporting Statistics APA-Style

Descriptive Statistics:

Mean (M) and standard deviation (SD)
Example: Reaction times for SOV sentences were faster (M = 450 ms, SD = 35) than OSV sentences (M = 520 ms, SD = 42).

Inferential Statistics:

Include test type, test statistic, df, and p-value

Example:

A paired-samples t-test indicated a significant difference between SOV and OSV sentences, t(24) = 4.56, p < .001.

Tip: Always report effect size when possible (Cohen’s d, η²).

4. Ethical Citation of Instruments and Stimuli

Cite software, experimental paradigms, corpora, or datasets

Avoid using materials without permission or proper attribution

Examples:

PsychoPy software: (Peirce et al., 2019)
Saraiki corpus: (Hussain, 2021)
Urdu sentence stimuli adapted from Khan (2019)

5. Avoiding Self-Plagiarism

Do not reuse your previous work without citation

Rewriting prior analyses is acceptable if clearly referenced

Example:

Previous reaction time data were reported in Ali (2020); current study extends findings with new stimuli.

6. Exercise: Format a Mini-Results Table

Task: Format the following reaction time data in APA-compliant style:

Sentence Type	RT (ms)
SVO	480
VSO	530
OVS	560

Solution:

Sentence Type	Mean RT (ms)	SD
SVO	480	30
VSO	530	28
OVS	560	35

Table 2
Mean reaction times (RT) and standard deviations (SD) for Urdu sentences with different word orders.

Reflection Questions:

How do tables improve clarity and reduce examiner cognitive load?
Why is it important to report both mean and SD?
How should you cite the source of stimuli or software in the results section?

Outcome:

By the end of this chapter, learners will be able to:

Report participants, materials, procedures, and results APA-style
Format tables and figures for reaction time, accuracy, or frequency data
Report descriptive and inferential statistics correctly
Cite instruments, stimuli, and datasets ethically
Avoid self-plagiarism in reporting experimental data

Part IV. Pakistani Language Context & Multilingual Issues

7: Pakistani Languages & APA

1. Citing Non-English Sources

When citing sources in Urdu, Saraiki, Punjabi, Pothwari, or Hindko:

Include the original language title and provide English translation in brackets

Include Romanized transliteration if the script is non-Latin

Example (Urdu book):

Khan, A. (2019). Urdu syntax: Morfoloji aur jumlay ka dhanchaa [Urdu syntax: Morphology and sentence structure]. Lahore: Linguistics Press.

Example (Saraiki article):

Ali, S. (2020). Saraiki jumlay di samajh [Understanding Saraiki sentences]. Journal of South Asian Linguistics, 5(2), 45–60.

Tip: APA allows original language titles, but English translation helps international readers.

2. Transliteration Conventions

Romanization is often required when:

Original script is Arabic-based (Urdu, Saraiki, Punjabi)

Readers may not read native script

Guidelines:

Use consistent Romanization across the manuscript

Use diacritics sparingly for phonetic clarity

Italicize transliterated words

Example:

MaiN kitaab parh rahaa huuN (I am reading a book)

3. Romanization vs Native Script

Options:

Romanization only: Useful for international audiences

Native script with transliteration in parentheses: Ideal for bilingual readership

Native script in text, Romanized in reference list: Ensures APA-compliant reference list

Example in-text:

Native script: میں کتاب پڑھ رہا ہوں (MaiN kitaab parh rahaa huuN)

Translation: “I am reading a book.”

Reference list (APA 7):

Hussain, R. (2021). MaiN kitaab parh rahaa huuN [I am reading a book]. Islamabad: National Linguistics Press.

4. Ethical Citation of Indigenous Research

Always cite fieldwork, interviews, local datasets, or unpublished theses
Provide clear attribution for indigenous knowledge
Avoid paraphrasing sensitive information without permission

Example:

Data from Saraiki-speaking participants were collected during fieldwork in Multan (Ali, 2022, unpublished field notes).

5. Referencing Local Journals, Theses, and Field Data

Local Journals:

Follow APA format for journals; include issue, volume, pages, and DOI if available
Example:
Rehman, S. (2020). Saraiki morphosyntax: A descriptive study. Multan Linguistics Journal, 12(1), 23–40.

Theses/Dissertations:

Include university and degree type

Example:

Ali, S. (2021). Syntax acquisition in Saraiki children (Unpublished MPhil thesis). National University of Modern Languages, Islamabad.

Field Data:

Cite as unpublished dataset or field notes

Example:

Hussain, R. (2021). Saraiki morphosyntactic corpus [Dataset]. Islamabad: National Linguistics Lab.

6. Exercise: Convert Urdu/Saraiki/Punjabi Sources into APA

Task: Format the following sources in APA 7:

کتاب: اردو گرامر، از احمد خان، لاہور 2019
Article: “سرائیکی فاعل فعل کا مطالعہ”، علی 2020، جرنل آف ساؤتھ ایشین لسانیات 5(2): 45–60
Thesis: پنجاب یونیورسٹی، 2021، سرائیکی جملے کی پروسیسنگ، حسن حسین

Answer Key:

Khan, A. (2019). Urdu grammar [Urdu grammar]. Lahore: Linguistics Press.
Ali, S. (2020). Saraiki faa’il–fail ka mutaala [Study of Saraiki subject–verb]. Journal of South Asian Linguistics, 5(2), 45–60.
Hussain, H. (2021). Saraiki jumlay ki processing [Processing of Saraiki sentences] (Unpublished MPhil thesis). University of Punjab, Lahore.

Reflection Questions:

Why is it important to include both original language and English translation?
How does APA style ensure ethically citing local knowledge?
When should Romanization be used instead of native script?

Outcome:

By the end of this chapter, learners will be able to:

Cite non-English sources correctly in APA 7
Apply Romanization and transliteration conventions consistently
Reference local journals, theses, and field data ethically
Format multilingual sources for cross-linguistic clarity
Ensure ethically sound and APA-compliant references for Pakistani languages

8: Common APA Errors in Pakistani Theses

1. Over-Quoting Theorists

Issue: Many students rely too heavily on direct quotations instead of paraphrasing.

Problems:

Reduces originality
Makes writing look patchy
May indicate lack of understanding

Example – Over-quoting:

“Urdu exhibits head-final structures in verb phrases” (Khan, 2019, p. 23).

“Saraiki SOV order is canonical” (Ali, 2020, p. 45).

APA 7 Fix: Paraphrase while retaining attribution:

Khan (2019) notes that Urdu verb phrases generally follow a head-final structure, and Ali (2020) confirms that SOV is canonical in Saraiki.

2. Weak Paraphrasing

Issue: Changing only a few words from the original text is not true paraphrasing.

Example – Weak paraphrase:

Original: Punjabi word order influences sentence comprehension.

Weak: Punjabi sentence structure influences understanding of sentences.

APA 7 Fix: Fully rephrase, integrate, and cite:

Comprehension in Punjabi is affected by its typical word order (Hussain, 2021).

3. Inconsistent Years & Authors

Common mistakes:

Citing the same source with different years
Mixing authors’ names inconsistently
Using et al. incorrectly

Example – Error:

(Ali, 2019) … (Ali, 2020) … (Ali et al., 2019)

APA 7 Fix: Verify original publication year and apply author–date rules consistently.

4. Fake or Broken DOIs

Issue: Many Pakistani theses include DOIs copied from Google without verification.

APA 7 Fix:

Verify DOI via https://doi.org

If DOI is unavailable, use stable URL or database link

Example:

Hussain, R., Ahmed, F., & Malik, T. (2021). Verb agreement processing in Punjabi. Journal of Psycholinguistic Research, 50(3), 245–260. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10936-021-09789-2

5. Mixing APA 6 & APA 7

Problem: Students sometimes mix rules from APA 6 (e.g., “et al.” usage, running head, citation punctuation).

Key APA 7 Differences:

3+ authors always use et al. in parenthetical and narrative citations after first citation
Running head simplified for student papers
Up to 20 authors listed in reference list before using et al.

6. Poor Abstracts & Headings

Issues:

Abstracts too long/short or missing keywords

Headings inconsistent: APA 7 specifies 5 levels of headings

Example – Poor headings:

Introduction

Methods

Results

Discussion

APA 7 Fix:

Use proper heading levels for subsections (bold, italic, title case as per level)

Abstract: concise (150–250 words), structured, with keywords

7. Activity: Error-Hunting from Anonymized Theses

Task: Students receive anonymized thesis excerpts containing APA mistakes. Identify and correct them.

Sample Excerpt (with errors):

“Saraiki SOV order is canonical” (Ali 2019) … Hussain et al 2021 … Reaction times were faster (Hussain 2020, p. 34) … DOI: 10.0000/xyz

Corrected Version:

Ali (2019) confirms that SOV is canonical in Saraiki. Reaction times were faster (Hussain et al., 2021, p. 34). DOI verified: https://doi.org/10.1000/xyz

Reflection Questions:

Which errors affected clarity or credibility?
How does consistent APA usage help readers and examiners?
Which mistakes are most common in Pakistani MPhil theses?

Outcome:

By the end of this chapter, learners will:

Identify and correct over-quoting and weak paraphrasing
Ensure consistent years, author names, and et al. usage
Verify DOIs and URLs for reliability
Avoid mixing APA 6 and APA 7 styles
Create well-structured abstracts and headings
Develop skills for error-hunting and self-editing

Part V. Tools, AI & Publication Readiness

9: APA Tools & AI Assistance

1. Reference Managers: Zotero, Mendeley

Purpose: Reference managers help organize, format, and export references in APA 7 style.

Zotero:

Free, open-source, supports multiple languages
Collect references from databases, websites, or PDFs
Automatically generate in-text citations and reference lists in APA 7

Mendeley:

Desktop and web-based, also supports PDFs and annotations
Integration with Word/LibreOffice for automatic citations
Import references from online journals or Google Scholar

Tip: Always verify auto-generated APA formatting, especially for multilingual or non-English sources.

2. ChatGPT for Paraphrasing & Ethics

Use Cases:

Generating clearer sentences from complex theory
Summarizing psycholinguistic studies or field data
Formatting examples for multilingual sources

Ethical Guidelines:

Never use AI to produce original research
Always check AI-generated text for accuracy, clarity, and APA compliance
Paraphrase AI suggestions further to ensure your own voice

Example:

Original: “Saraiki SOV order is canonical.”

ChatGPT suggestion: “In Saraiki, the canonical word order places the subject before the object and verb.”

Final APA-compliant in-text: Ali (2020) notes that Saraiki typically follows an SOV word order.

3. AI Risks in APA & Plagiarism Detection

Potential Risks:

AI may misattribute sources or generate fake DOIs
Overreliance can lead to accidental plagiarism
Citation formats may be inconsistent or outdated

Mitigation:

Always cross-check references manually
Use plagiarism detection tools (Turnitin, iThenticate)
Maintain a personal log of sources and URLs

4. Human Judgment vs Automation

Automation tools save time but cannot replace critical judgment:

Task	Automation	Human Judgment
Paraphrasing	ChatGPT, Grammarly	Ensure meaning retained, context correct
Reference Formatting	Zotero, Mendeley	Check multilingual sources, DOI accuracy
Plagiarism Detection	Turnitin	Interpret matches, apply citation ethics

Rule of Thumb: Use tools for efficiency, human judgment for accuracy and ethics.

5. Exercise: Import, Correct, and Export 10 References Using Zotero

Task:

Collect 10 references (books, journal articles, theses, datasets) related to Urdu, Saraiki, Punjabi, Pothwari, Hindko linguistics.

Import into Zotero.

Verify APA 7 formatting:

Authors, year, title, italics, capitalization

Transliteration and translation for non-English titles

DOIs and URLs

Export reference list in APA 7 format.

Compare exported list with manually corrected version.

Reflection Questions:

Which references required manual correction after export?
How does Zotero handle non-English titles and transliteration?
How can AI assist without replacing your judgment in citation management?

Outcome:

By the end of this chapter, learners will:

Use reference managers (Zotero, Mendeley) for efficient APA 7 compliance
Apply ChatGPT ethically for paraphrasing and formatting
Understand AI risks in plagiarism and citation errors
Integrate human judgment with automated tools
Prepare a ready-to-submit reference list for multilingual linguistics research

10: Examiner Psychology & Publishing

1. What NUML/HEC Examiners Check in Theses

Examiners focus on both content and presentation. Key aspects include:

Clarity of research problem and objectives
Logical flow: Introduction → Literature → Methods → Results → Discussion
APA 7 compliance: citations, references, tables, figures
Originality: minimal plagiarism, proper paraphrasing, accurate attribution
Language and style: grammar, terminology, consistency in transliteration
Data reporting: accuracy in statistics, tables, and figures

Tip: Examiners often scan for APA compliance first, then evaluate content rigor.

2. APA Mistakes That Trigger Revisions

Common APA issues that delay thesis approval:

Over-quoting or weak paraphrasing
Inconsistent author names or years
Incorrect or missing DOIs/URLs
Improper formatting of tables, figures, and headings
Unmarked marginal/ungrammatical sentences in syntax/morphology
Poorly formatted abstracts or missing keywords
Mixing APA 6 and APA 7 rules

Tip: Minor APA errors can trigger full revision requests in NUML/HEC evaluation.

3. From Thesis Chapter to Journal Article

Steps to transform a chapter into a publishable article:

Condense literature review: Focus on relevant references
Highlight key findings: Use tables/figures for clarity
Use journal-specific APA format: Check author guidelines
Emphasize contribution: Stress novelty, especially for Pakistani languages or multilingual datasets
Ethics and citations: Maintain proper credit for all stimuli, corpora, or fieldwork

Example:

Thesis chapter on Saraiki SOV sentence processing → journal article in Journal of Psycholinguistic Research

Include concise introduction, methods, results, discussion, and APA-compliant references

4. Checklist for Final Submission

Section	APA Checkpoints
Title Page	Correct running head, title, author info
Abstract	150–250 words, keywords included, structured
Introduction	Clear problem statement, properly cited
Literature Review	Paraphrased, consistent references, APA-compliant
Methods	Participants, materials, procedure, statistical reporting APA-style
Results	Tables & figures numbered, captions, statistics reported
Discussion	Accurate citations, interpret results without over-quoting
References	Alphabetical, italicization, DOI/URLs verified, transliteration & translation for non-English
Appendices	Proper labeling, numbering, and referencing in text
General	Grammar, headings, marginal/ungrammatical sentence marking, plagiarism check

5. Exercise: Self-Check Your Draft Chapter Against APA Checklist

Task:

Take one chapter of your thesis.

Use the APA checklist above to review:

Citations and references

Tables, figures, and statistical reporting

Headings and formatting

Transliteration, translation, and multilingual consistency

Abstract and keywords

Mark all corrections and revise accordingly

Reflection Questions:

Which APA errors are most frequent in your draft?

Did tables, figures, and glossed examples follow APA 7 style?

Are all multilingual sources properly transliterated and translated?

How can you improve clarity and readability for examiners?

Outcome:

By the end of this chapter, learners will:

Understand what NUML/HEC examiners prioritize

Identify APA mistakes that trigger revisions

Convert thesis chapters into journal-ready APA articles

Use a comprehensive final submission checklist

Conduct a self-assessment to ensure APA-compliant, publication-ready work

Part VI. Practice & Review

11: Integrated Practice – Putting APA into Action

1. Mini-Thesis Chapter Example

Purpose: Apply all APA 7 principles—citations, references, tables, figures, glossing, transliteration, and multilingual examples—in one integrated chapter.

Sample Mini-Chapter:

Title: Sentence Processing in Saraiki and Urdu: A Psycholinguistic Study

Abstract:

This study investigates sentence processing in Saraiki and Urdu speakers using reaction time experiments. Forty participants read 60 sentences in SOV, OSV, and VSO orders. Reaction times and comprehension accuracy were measured. Results indicate faster processing for canonical SOV structures in both languages. Tables, glossed examples, and figures illustrate the findings. All materials, stimuli, and field data are ethically cited.

Introduction:

Previous research shows that canonical word order affects sentence comprehension in South Asian languages (Ali, 2020; Hussain, 2021). Urdu generally follows SOV order (Khan, 2019), while Saraiki exhibits SOV canonical order with occasional OSV variants (Ali, 2020). Understanding these patterns informs psycholinguistic models of bilingual processing.

2. Tables & Figures Example

Table 1 – Reaction Times (ms) for Sentence Types

Language	Sentence Type	Mean RT	SD
Saraiki	SOV	455	34
Saraiki	OSV	518	41
Urdu	SOV	462	36
Urdu	VSO	525	39

Note. Reaction times (RT) measured in milliseconds. Canonical sentences processed faster in both languages.

Figure 1 – Syntax Tree Example

Figure caption: Syntax tree for Saraiki sentence MaiN kitaab parh rahaa huuN (Ali, 2020).

3. Glossed Example

Saraiki Sentence:

MaiN kitaab parh rahaa huuN

1SG.NOM book read-PROG be-PRS

“I am reading a book.”

APA Tip: Italicize native words, include gloss and English translation, number examples sequentially.

4. References (APA 7)

Ali, S. (2020). Saraiki jumlay di samajh [Understanding Saraiki sentences]. Journal of South Asian Linguistics, 5(2), 45–60.

Hussain, R. (2021). Saraiki morphosyntactic corpus [Dataset]. Islamabad: National Linguistics Lab.

Khan, A. (2019). Urdu syntax: Morfoloji aur jumlay ka dhanchaa [Urdu syntax: Morphology and sentence structure]. Lahore: Linguistics Press.

5. Peer-Review and Self-Assessment Exercises

Activity 1 – Peer Review:

Exchange mini-chapter drafts with a colleague.
Check for APA compliance: citations, references, tables, figures, transliteration, glossing, statistical reporting.
Provide feedback on clarity, consistency, and ethics.

Activity 2 – Self-Assessment:

Use the final APA checklist (Chapter 10) to review your own draft.

Identify errors in:

In-text citations

Reference list

Table/figure formatting

Multilingual source handling

Abstract, headings, and overall readability

Reflection Questions:

Did your tables and figures comply with APA numbering and captions?
Were non-English sources properly transliterated and translated?
Did the mini-chapter reflect ethical citation and plagiarism avoidance?
How effectively does the mini-chapter integrate syntax, morphology, and psycholinguistic data?

Outcome:

By completing this chapter, learners will:

Integrate all APA 7 skills into a single, coherent mini-thesis chapter
Apply tables, figures, glossing, and transliteration effectively
Conduct peer-review and self-assessment for quality and APA compliance
Build confidence for MPhil thesis writing and journal publication

12: Summary & Final Checklist

1. Recap of All APA Essentials

This chapter consolidates the key APA 7 principles covered in previous chapters:

Writing & Formatting:

APA is not just formatting; it structures thinking and reduces cognitive load for examiners.

Use consistent headings, numbering, italics, and transliteration.

Citations & References:

In-text: Author–date system, et al. rules, paraphrasing over quoting.

Reference list: Alphabetical, italics, capitalization, DOI/URL verification, transliteration and English translation for non-English sources.

Tables & Figures:

Number sequentially, provide descriptive captions, report statistics clearly.

Use glossing, morpheme segmentation, and syntactic trees with APA-compliant formatting.

Multilingual & Field-Specific Practices:

Pakistani languages: Urdu, Saraiki, Punjabi, Pothwari, Hindko.

Transliteration vs native script, ethical citation of fieldwork and datasets.

Psycholinguistic Research Reporting:

Participants, materials, procedures, reaction times, accuracy, statistical reporting (M, SD, p-values).

Ethical citation of instruments and stimuli.

Avoid self-plagiarism.

Common Pitfalls:

Over-quoting, weak paraphrasing, inconsistent years/authors, broken DOIs, mixing APA 6 & 7, poor abstracts/headings.

Examiners often focus on APA compliance first; errors can trigger revisions.

Tools & AI:

Zotero, Mendeley, and ChatGPT can assist but require human judgment for accuracy and ethics.

AI risks: misattribution, fake DOIs, plagiarism; always verify outputs.

2. Field-Specific Tips for Psycholinguistics & Pakistani Languages

Syntax & Morphology: Mark ungrammatical/marginal sentences (*, ??), gloss consistently, italicize native words.

Multilingual Research: Provide transliteration + English translation, ensure uniform style across Urdu, Saraiki, Punjabi, Pothwari, Hindko.

Psycholinguistic Experiments: Use APA-compliant tables/figures for reaction times, accuracy, and cross-linguistic comparisons.

Corpus & Field Data: Cite indigenous research ethically, document fieldwork, and reference local journals/theses properly.

3. Ready-to-Use APA Checklist for Students and Scholars

Writing & Formatting

Headings follow APA 7 levels
Text is clear, consistent, and structured
Italics and quotation marks used correctly
Marginal/ungrammatical sentences marked (*, ??)

Citations & References

In-text citations follow author–date format
Paraphrasing preferred over direct quotes
Reference list alphabetized, italics correct, DOIs/URLs verified
Non-English sources transliterated + translated
Theses, datasets, and field data cited ethically

Tables & Figures

Numbered sequentially
Descriptive captions included
Statistics (M, SD, p-values) reported correctly
Figures/tables self-explanatory

Psycholinguistic & Linguistic Data

Participants, materials, procedures described clearly
Stimuli and instruments cited ethically
Reaction times, comprehension, and other measurements reported APA-style
Syntax/morphology examples formatted with glossing and translation

Tools & AI

Zotero/Mendeley used for reference management
ChatGPT/paraphrasing tools used ethically
Human judgment applied to check formatting, citations, and plagiarism

Final Checks

Abstract 150–250 words, structured, keywords included
Consistency across chapters (APA 7 compliance)
Plagiarism check complete
Ready for submission or journal publication

Outcome:

By completing this chapter, learners will:

Have a concise summary of all APA essentials relevant to linguistics, psycholinguistics, and Pakistani languages.
Be able to self-assess using a practical checklist before submission.
Gain confidence for thesis completion, journal publication, and ethical academic writing.

Explore more

APA Style

Purdue OWL

Purdue OWL: APA Formatting - The Basics

Thesis Writing in Linguistics & Research Paper Writing

Riaz Laghari

header logo

APA 7 for Psycholinguistics & Syntax–Morphology

APA 7 for Psycholinguistics & Syntax–Morphology

1. What is APA Style? Purpose & History

2. Why APA is Ideal for Linguistics & Psycholinguistics Research

3. APA vs MLA vs Chicago: Key Differences

4. Cognitive & Psycholinguistic Perspective

5. How APA Prevents Plagiarism

In-text citations: Attribute every idea or data point to its original source.

Reference list: Provides full source details for verification.

Encourages paraphrasing: Reduces copying while maintaining integrity.

Exercises: Identify APA vs Non-APA Citations

2. Linking Theory, Data, and Writing

3. How APA Structures Cognitive Load for Examiners

4. Practical Application in Psycholinguistics

Exercise: Map a Research Idea to APA Structure

1. Author–Date System Explained

2. Paraphrasing vs Quoting

3. One, Two, Three or More Authors

4. Organizational Authors

5. Secondary Citations & Best Practices

6. Common Mistakes in Pakistani MPhil Theses

8. Exercise: Convert Sample Sentences to APA In-Text Citations

1. Reference List as a Research Database

2. Alphabetical Order, Italics, Capitalization, Spacing

3. Types of Sources

Books: Full title italicized, publisher included.

Journal Articles: Italicize journal name and volume; include DOI if available.

Edited Volumes / Chapters: Include editors (Eds.), book title, page range.

Dissertations / Theses:

Ali, S. (2020). Syntax acquisition in Saraiki children (Unpublished MPhil thesis). National University of Modern Languages, Islamabad.

Online Sources / Corpora / Datasets: Include URL or DOI:

Hussain, R. (2021). Saraiki morphosyntactic corpus [Dataset]. https://doi.org/10.1234/smc2021

4. Pitfalls of Google Scholar APA Output

Google Scholar often misformats author lists, capitalization, or italics

DOI may be missing or incorrect

Multiple authors may be truncated incorrectly

Always verify each reference manually against APA 7 rules

5. Exercise: Correct an Anonymized MPhil Reference List

5: Syntax & Morphology Examples in APA 7

1. Presenting Trees, Dependency Graphs, and Sentence Structures

2. Morpheme Segmentation and Interlinear Glossing

3. Handling Ungrammaticality

4. Italics, Quotation Marks, and Numbered Examples

5. Transliteration vs Translation

7. Exercise: Format 5 Sample Sentences in APA-Compliant Style

Exercise: Format 5 Sample Sentences in APA Style

APA-Compliant Formatting Solution

APA Tips Applied Here

Italicization: Native words (Ali, kitaab, parhi) are italicized.

Numbering: Examples are sequentially numbered (1–5) for reference in text.

Glossing: Interlinear morpheme-by-morpheme gloss provided under each native sentence.

Translation: English translation in quotation marks under gloss.

Ungrammaticality: Marginal or ungrammatical sentences marked with * or ?? and explained in parentheses.

6: Psycholinguistic Experiments in APA 7

1. Reporting Participants, Materials, Procedure, and Results

2. Tables & Figures

4. Ethical Citation of Instruments and Stimuli

Cite software, experimental paradigms, corpora, or datasets

Avoid using materials without permission or proper attribution

5. Avoiding Self-Plagiarism

Do not reuse your previous work without citation

Rewriting prior analyses is acceptable if clearly referenced

Example:

Previous reaction time data were reported in Ali (2020); current study extends findings with new stimuli.

6. Exercise: Format a Mini-Results Table

1. Citing Non-English Sources

2. Transliteration Conventions

3. Romanization vs Native Script

4. Ethical Citation of Indigenous Research

5. Referencing Local Journals, Theses, and Field Data

6. Exercise: Convert Urdu/Saraiki/Punjabi Sources into APA

Task: Format the following sources in APA 7:

8: Common APA Errors in Pakistani Theses

1. Over-Quoting Theorists

2. Weak Paraphrasing

3. Inconsistent Years & Authors

4. Fake or Broken DOIs

5. Mixing APA 6 & APA 7

Ungrammaticality: Marginal or ungrammatical sentences marked with `*` or `??` and explained in parentheses.