A review of the literature was conducted to examine the role of elementary verbal processes on the expression of psychometrically assessed verbal intellectual ability. The review was organized with respect to level of language organization, so that the importance of the role of individual differences in elementary cognitive processing of sublexical and lexical language elements, as well as of sentences and discourse, respectively, on verbal intellectual ability was examined. It was concluded that further study of the role of elementary verbal processes on verbal intellectual ability appears to be a promising means, though certainly not the only means by which, to more fully understand complex cognitive abilities like verbal ability.