Sentence Comprehension

Question 1

What is parsing?

Answer 1

Determining the linguistic relationships among parts

Question 2

Immediacy principle: Immediately after a word is heard or read…

Answer 2

… the meaning is accessed

… it is placed into the assumed syntactic structure

Question 3

Benefit of the immediacy principle:

Answer 3

It’s really fast

Question 4

Garden Path Sentences

Answer 4

Easy to misparse sentences
Support the immediacy principle
Immediate parsing can lead to errors because there’s a lot of assumption involved

Question 5

Two approaches to parsing:

Answer 5

Modular approach: comprehension is the result of modules, each devoted to ONE aspect; only syntax is considered, semantics is not considered
Interactive approach: parsing involves more than just syntax, constraint-based model

Question 6

Modular Approach

Answer 6

• Comprehension is the result of modules, each devoted to ONE aspect
• Only syntax is considered, semantics is not considered
• Parsing strategies –> use the simplest, easiest-to-construct phrase tree possible
• Two strategies: Late Closure Strategy, Minimal Attachment

Question 7

Interactive Approach

Answer 7

• Parsing involves more than just syntax
• Constraint-based model: all available information is used in parsing; syntax and semantics are assumed to interact during comprehension

Question 8

Late Closure Strategy

Answer 8

Attach items to the phrase currently being processed
“Close” clause boundaries at the latest point possible
E.g., Because Jay always jogs a mile… seems like a short distance to him
Frazier & Rayner (1982) - eye-tracking (for Garden Path sentences)

Question 9

Minimal Attachment

Answer 9

Attach items so the fewest new constituents are created
Assumption: more constituents –> harder to process
Frazier & Rayner (1982) - The spy saw the cop…
-… with the binoculars but the cop didn’t see him –> MA works (2 ways to parse - who has the binoculars?)
-… with the revolved but the cop didn’t see him –> MA fails (must reparse)
Study looks at fixation duration - more fixation if you have to reparse

Question 10

Rayner et al. (1983) - eye tracking study

Answer 10

Sentence 1: The florist sent the flowers was pleased (less plausible)
Sentence 2: The actor sent the flowers was please (more plausible)
(Modular approach says plausibility shouldn’t matter)
(If plausibility affects parsing, then interactive approach)
Results: found that people GP florist sentence; found people also GP actor sentence!
Plausibility didn’t matter - MODULAR SUPPORT

Question 11

Trueswell et al. (1994) - eye tracking study

Answer 11

Does semantics matter? Does it affect parsing?
Modular prediction - no - semantics shouldn’t matter
Interactive prediction - yes - semantics matter
Results: GP for only one sentence - we use our knowledge to determine if MA is possible - INTERACTIVE SUPPORT

Question 12

Ferreira & Clifton (1986) - Does context matter?

Answer 12

“The editor played the tape agreed it was a big story”
- Poor context given to some subjects
- Good context given to some subjects
Results: People GP with poor context and with good context; context has no effect - MODULAR SUPPORT

Question 13

Boland (1997) - Does lexical preference matter? (“Preferred interpretation”)

Answer 13

Modular approach says lexical preference should matter
2 sentences:
-1. Jane saw her duck and fall down (preferred interpretation)
-2. Jane saw her duck and some eggs
Results: found that people didn’t GP sentence 1 (faster); we use lexical knowledge to help us parse - INTERACTIVE SUPPORT

Question 14

We usually follow parsing strategies… but our parsing can be modified based on our _____________

Answer 14

knowledge/expectations