Parsing Complex Noun Phrases: Effects of Hierarchical Structure and Sentence Position on Memory Load

Area of Science:

• Psycholinguistics
• Computational Linguistics
• Cognitive Science

Background:

• Understanding how humans process language in real-time is crucial for psycholinguistics.
• Complex noun phrases (NPs) pose significant challenges for sentence parsing models.
• Previous research has explored various factors influencing parsing difficulty, including structural complexity and lexical ambiguity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the online parsing mechanisms of complex noun phrases (NPs) in Spanish.
• To determine how the position of complex NPs (subject vs. object) affects processing load.
• To examine the role of structural complexity and embedded elements (prepositional phrases, coordinate NPs) in sentence comprehension.

Main Methods:

• Conducted two experiments using a 'click detection' paradigm combined with an oral comprehension task.
• Utilized sentences in Spanish featuring complex NPs with embedded prepositional phrases or coordinate structures.
• Manipulated the position of critical NPs (subject or object) and their lexical content (real words or pseudowords).

Main Results:

• Observed distinct patterns in reaction times (RTs) to clicks based on NP position.
• Complex NPs in subject position showed increased processing demands as parsing progressed deeper into the NP.
• Complex NPs in object position exhibited an inverse pattern of processing demands.

Conclusions:

• Structural complexity alone does not solely dictate increased processing costs in sentence parsing.
• Processing costs are heightened in situations requiring deferred operations, such as subject-verb agreement.
• The findings provide insights into the dynamic nature of online sentence comprehension and parsing strategies.