Sentence Processing

Long-Distance Dependencies

• Dependency- when the form or interpretation of one word depends on another word

• Some words are separated by several other words but still need to be connected during comprehension

• Understanding these relationships require working memory

Working Memory

• Working memory: Temporarily stores and maintains information so we can use it during language comprehension

• Three main processes:

  • Encode: Store and maintain important information

  • Access: Retrieve information when needed

  • Integrate: Connect information together

• Two limitations of working memory:

  • Capacity (1-4 items)

  • Similarity-Based Interference

Chunking

• Combining individual pieces of information into larger meaningful groups

• Allows us to remember more information despite limited working memory capacity

Similarity-Based Interference

• Access to a target item in memory is disrupted by similar competing items

• Agreement Attraction- a nearby noun incorrectly influences the verb’s grammatical agreement

Cue-Based Retrieval

• Sentence structures are stored in memory as chunks

• When we need information, we use retrieval cues to locate the correct information

• Similar competing items can interfere with retrieval

Prediction in Language Processing

• Expectation-driven language processing- During conversation or reading, we actively predict what information is likely to come next

• Three source of predictions:

  • Context

  • Real-World Knowledge

  • Linguistic knowledge

Filler-Gap Dependencies

• Filler-gap dependency- A relationship between a word introduced earlier in a sentence (the filler) and an empty position (the gap) that appears later

  • Readers actively predict where the gap will occur instead of waiting until they encounter it

Filler-Gap Effect

• Filled-gap effect: Processing becomes more difficult when we expect a gap in a sentence but discover that the expected position is already occupied by another word