THE ASSESSMENT OF CLITIC PRODUCTION IN SERBIAN SPEAKERS

Abstract

This study examines clitic production in adult, neurologically healthy speakers of Serbian. The primary aim was to assess the validity and reliability of the newly developed Clitic Production Test, as well as to explore regional differences in clitic usage across various Serbian-speaking areas. A secondary goal was to investigate the influence of socio¬demographic factors — including gender, age, level of education, and place of residence — on clitic production. The sample included 250 participants from five distinct regions (50 per region). A retest was conducted on a subsample of 100 participants, proportionally representing all regions. In addition to the Clitic Production Test, sentence repetition and digit span tasks were administered to assess short-term verbal and working memory. Findings indicate that the Clitic Production Test demonstrates strong psychometric properties, including internal consistency, test–retest reliability, and both intra- and inter-rater reliability. The test also shows good construct validity. Educational attainment emerged as a significant predictor of clitic production, particularly for enclitics: participants with higher levels of formal education produced clitics more frequently than those with less education. Statistically significant regional differences in clitic production were also found, especially when assessed according to prescriptive grammatical norms. Furthermore, a strong correlation was observed between clitic production and digit span performance, suggesting that both short-term and working memory capacities are associated with clitic usage. In conclusion, Serbian speakers demonstrate a high degree of clitic production, with clear variation influenced by both regional background and educational level.