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Irrelevant Stimuli and Action Control: Analyzing the Influence of Ignored Stimuli via the Distractor-Response Binding Paradigm
Published on: May 14, 2014
A new look at the syntax-discourse interface: the use of binding principles in sentence processing
1Department of Psychology, University of Glasgow, 58 Hillhead Street, Glasgow, G12 8QB Scotland. patrick@psy.gla.ac.uk
Journal of Psycholinguistic Research
|April 15, 2003
Summary
Syntactic binding constraints in generative grammar may be overridden by discourse structure during language comprehension. Online processing techniques reveal syntax
Area of Science:
- Linguistics
- Psycholinguistics
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Binding constraints in generative grammar are traditionally explained through syntax.
- Some linguistic examples challenge purely syntactic accounts of co-reference.
- Discourse structure is proposed as a necessary component for a full explanation of co-reference.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review existing proposals on the interplay between syntax and discourse in binding constraints.
- To examine recent research utilizing online processing techniques.
- To investigate the temporal dynamics of syntactic and discourse preferences in sentence comprehension.
Main Methods:
- Review of theoretical proposals in linguistic literature.
- Analysis of empirical studies employing online processing measures (e.g., eye-tracking, self-paced reading).
- Examination of the time course of activation for syntactic and discourse-based preferences.
Main Results:
- Evidence suggests syntactic binding principles are activated during sentence processing, even when not reflected in the final interpretation.
- Online techniques reveal the dynamic interaction between syntactic and discourse factors.
- The temporal activation patterns challenge models relying solely on final interpretation.
Conclusions:
- A comprehensive account of co-reference requires integrating both syntactic and discourse-level information.
- Syntactic constraints may play a transient role during real-time language comprehension.
- Theoretical and methodological implications for understanding sentence processing are considered.
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