W4 - Language Structure & Reading Flashcards

1
Q

What distinction did Noam Chomsky introduce in 1928 regarding language?

A

Competence vs. Performance

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2
Q

Define ‘Competence’ in Chomsky’s language theory.

A

Knowledge of language rules

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3
Q

Define ‘Performance’ in Chomsky’s language theory.

A

Actual language use influenced by memory and situational factors

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4
Q

What is the focus of grammaticality judgments in language?

A

Differentiating grammaticality from sensicality - These judgments rely on implicit knowledge of the syntactic rules of a language - innate

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5
Q

What does Chomsky’s generative grammar allow?

A

Creation of infinite sentences from finite rules via recursion

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6
Q

Why don’t we store all possible sentences according to Chomsky’s theory?

A

as we have ‘rule-governed creativity’ where we can come up with new well informed sentences

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7
Q

What is the purpose of phrase structure tree/diagram?

A

To illustrate the hierarchical structure of sentences

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8
Q

How do phrase structure trees function in syntax?

A

They represent relationships among sentence constituents

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9
Q

What is ‘on-line parsing’?

A

Incrementally building syntax structure as words are heard or read

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10
Q

In parsing ‘The girl hit the man with the umbrella,’ what ambiguity arises?

A

Whether the man or girl has the umbrella or if the umbrella is used to hit

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11
Q

What is the Encapsulation model in parsing?

A

Syntax, semantics, and discourse operate in separate modules

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12
Q

Contrast Encapsulation with Interaction in parsing models.

A

Interaction allows continuous integration of syntax, semantics, and context

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13
Q

Who proposed the Garden-Path Model and in what year?

A

Frazier, 1987

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14
Q

What is the ‘Minimal Attachment’ principle in Frazier’s Garden-Path Model?

A

Choosing the syntactic structure with the fewest nodes

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15
Q

What does ‘Late Closure’ mean in syntactic processing?

A

Attaching new words to the current phrase or clause

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16
Q

When does reanalysis occur in the Garden-Path Model?

A

When the initial parse is incompatible with further information

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17
Q

In two-stage models, what follows initial syntactic parsing?

A

Integration of semantics and pragmatics

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18
Q

How do interactive models process language?

A

By integrating meaning and context simultaneously

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19
Q

Give an example sentence used to test syntactic misinterpretations.

A

‘The man saw the girl with the telescope.’

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20
Q

What is a key feature of constraint-based models like MacDonald’s?

A

Immediate use of all available information (constraints)

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21
Q

How does parallel processing work in constraint-based models?

A

Multiple syntactic interpretations are considered at once

22
Q

What happens in constraint-based models when analyses are equally supported?

A

It creates competition and ambiguity

23
Q

Define lexical ambiguity with an example.

A

A word with multiple meanings, e.g., ‘bank’ (financial vs. river bank)

24
Q

What did Swinney’s 1979 experiment show about lexical ambiguity?

A

Multiple meanings activate before context selects the appropriate one

25
Q

Define inference in language comprehension.

A

Deriving additional meaning beyond literal text

26
Q

What are logical inferences based on?

A

Word meanings

27
Q

What is a bridging (backward) inference?

A

Connecting new info to prior info, e.g., ‘The car kept overheating’ refers to ‘James’s car.’

28
Q

Define elaborative (forward) inference.

A

Extending meaning using world knowledge, e.g., actress falls from the 14th floor implies ‘death.’

29
Q

Describe the minimalist approach to inferences.

A

Only necessary and easily accessible inferences are made automatically

30
Q

How does the constructionist approach to inference differ from the minimalist approach?

A

It suggests that readers make many inferences automatically

31
Q

What is the hybrid ‘Search-After-Meaning’ approach to inference?

A

Reader goals influence whether inferences are minimalist or elaborative

32
Q

What does ‘Good Enough’ processing mean?

A

Relying on shallow interpretations, not always striving for deep understanding

33
Q

How does verbal working memory affect language comprehension?

A

It influences how well meanings are integrated across sentences

34
Q

What is psychological essentialism?

A

Belief in underlying essences defining categories like natural kinds and artifacts

35
Q

In transformation studies, how do people categorize modified natural kinds vs. artifacts?

A

Natural kinds remain in their original category; artifacts are recategorized

36
Q

What does Theory of Mind (ToM) enable in language processing?

A

Understanding others’ beliefs and perspectives, crucial for irony and metaphor

37
Q

How do young children tend to categorize identity?

A

Based on perceptual features

38
Q

What did first-pass reading times reveal in essentialism studies?

A

Processing speed differences based on object transformations

39
Q

How do place-for-institution vs. place-for-event senses differ in processing speed?

A

Established metonymic senses (place-for-institution) are processed faster

40
Q

What does the reordered access model of lexical access propose?

A

Context boosts subordinate meanings in ambiguous words

41
Q

Define the Subordinate Bias Effect.

A

Context favors the less frequent (subordinate) meaning of a homonym

42
Q

What is lexical polysemy with an example?

A

Words with related senses, e.g., ‘wings’ (literal part vs. metonymic sense for an airplane)

43
Q

Explain metonymy with an example.

A

Using a part to represent the whole, e.g., ‘The wings took off’ for ‘airplane.’

44
Q

What is the Literal-First approach in figurative language processing?

A

Literal meanings are prioritized before figurative ones

45
Q

How does the Figurative-First approach differ in processing figurative language?

A

It suggests figurative meanings can be prioritized, though not strongly supported

46
Q

What did the parallel model of language access by Cacciari and Glucksberg propose?

A

All meanings activate simultaneously, without strict hierarchy

47
Q

What challenge does the Frame Problem pose for inferences?

A

Determining how far to extend inferences without overloading with irrelevant details

48
Q

What are logical and bridging inferences necessary for?

A

Maintaining coherence in discourse

49
Q

Define ‘Good Enough’ heuristics in language processing.

A

Using quick, efficient judgments rather than detailed analyses

50
Q

What factors affect individual comprehension differences according to Gernsbacher?

A

Working memory and ability to suppress irrelevant meanings