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Reflexive anaphor resolution in spoken language comprehension: structural constraints and beyond
1Department of Language and Linguistics, University of Essex Colchester, UK.
Frontiers in Psychology
|September 6, 2014
Summary
This study on reflexive pronoun processing in adults found that while final interpretations follow grammatical rules, real-time language comprehension can be influenced by prominent discourse information, affecting antecedent search.
Area of Science:
- Psycholinguistics
- Cognitive Science
- Linguistics
Background:
- Understanding how humans process language in real-time is crucial for cognitive science.
- Reflexive pronouns present a unique challenge in language comprehension due to their binding constraints.
- Previous research has focused on offline interpretations, but online processing mechanisms remain an active area of investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the online processing of reflexive pronouns in English-speaking adults.
- To determine if the search for a reflexive pronoun's antecedent is restricted to syntactically appropriate positions during real-time comprehension.
- To examine the influence of discourse-level information on antecedent selection for reflexive pronouns.
Main Methods:
- An eye-tracking during listening study was employed.
- Participants listened to a story and identified the object recipient of a reflexive pronoun.
- Offline interpretation, response times, and eye movements were recorded during reflexive pronoun processing.
Main Results:
- Offline interpretation of reflexives was constrained by established binding principles.
- Response times and eye-movement data indicated temporary distraction by structurally inappropriate antecedents.
- This distraction occurred when the competitor antecedent was prominent in the discourse.
Conclusions:
- Online referential decisions for reflexive pronouns are not solely governed by binding principles.
- Discourse-level information plays a significant role in real-time language comprehension and antecedent search.
- Language processing involves dynamic interactions between syntactic constraints and discourse context.
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