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Categorization of ambiguous sentences as a function of a changing prosodic parameter: a dynamical approach
J Raczaszek1, B Tuller, L P Shapiro
1Center for Complex Systems and Brain Sciences, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, USA.
Journal of Psycholinguistic Research
|June 25, 1999
Summary
This study shows that sentence interpretation can exhibit hysteresis, where recent history influences meaning perception for ambiguous sentences. This highlights dynamic processes in language understanding.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Science
- Psycholinguistics
- Dynamical Systems Theory
Background:
- Ambiguous sentences pose challenges for language comprehension.
- Understanding the cognitive mechanisms behind resolving ambiguity is crucial.
- Prosodic cues play a significant role in sentence interpretation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the dynamics of interpretation shifts in ambiguous sentences.
- To explore the role of prosodic cues in resolving semantic ambiguity.
- To apply dynamical systems theory to language understanding.
Main Methods:
- Systematic manipulation of prosodic cues (relative foot duration) to create continua of ambiguous sentences.
- Presentation of stimulus sentences to subjects to gauge perceived meaning and response times.
- Analysis of response patterns to identify phenomena like hysteresis.
Main Results:
- Hysteresis was observed in the interpretation of ambiguous sentences.
- Recent perceptual history significantly influenced meaning selection when prosodic cues were ambiguous.
- The categorization process was modeled as a transition from a stable state influenced by a control parameter (prosody).
Conclusions:
- The dynamics of ambiguous sentence interpretation share characteristics with pattern formation in other cognitive domains (e.g., perception).
- A dynamical systems approach is valuable for studying language understanding.
- Prosodic cues and cognitive history interact to resolve linguistic ambiguity.
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