Language Comprehension Thomas G. Bowers, Ph.D. 2001

Language Comprehension

Thomas G. Bowers, Ph.D.Thomas G. Bowers, Ph.D.

20012001


Depends upon the integration of denotative Depends upon the integration of denotative meaning and the impact of syntaxmeaning and the impact of syntax

Semantic analysis requires considerable Semantic analysis requires considerable simultaneous processing of auditory and simultaneous processing of auditory and visual cuesvisual cues


Parsing can impact on understandingParsing can impact on understanding Constituent structureConstituent structure

““A noun, an action, another noun”A noun, an action, another noun”E.g. E.g.

• ““A doctor shot a lawyer.”A doctor shot a lawyer.”• ““A doctor was shot by a lawyer.”A doctor was shot by a lawyer.”• We have no trouble with this type of We have no trouble with this type of

distinctiondistinction


Parsing can impact on understandingParsing can impact on understanding Constituent structureConstituent structure Emphasis on structure can lead to better Emphasis on structure can lead to better

understandingunderstanding


Form AForm A During WWII, even During WWII, even

fantastic schemes fantastic schemes received consideration received consideration if they gave promise if they gave promise of shortening the of shortening the conflict. conflict.

Form BForm B During WWII even During WWII even

fantastic schemes fantastic schemes received consideration received consideration if they gave promise if they gave promise of shortening the of shortening the conflict.conflict.


Form A shows better recall Form A shows better recall


Immediacy of interpretationImmediacy of interpretation Linguistic aspects are immediately Linguistic aspects are immediately

processedprocessed Unusual or significant words are fixated Unusual or significant words are fixated

on for longer periods of timeon for longer periods of time Syntax is heavily used to interpret a Syntax is heavily used to interpret a

sentencesentence Young children depend more upon Young children depend more upon

semantics than syntax semantics than syntax


Understanding usually depends upon the Understanding usually depends upon the integration of syntax and semanticsintegration of syntax and semantics

Subtle variations can be noted across Subtle variations can be noted across languageslanguages EnglishEnglish German German ItalianItalian


Neural Correlations of Syntactic and Neural Correlations of Syntactic and Semantic Processing Semantic Processing Receptive auditory analysis depends Receptive auditory analysis depends

upon temporal region functions, upon temporal region functions, especially posterior functionsespecially posterior functions

Receptive reading requires more Receptive reading requires more integrated analysisintegrated analysis

Significant impairment in reading may Significant impairment in reading may reflect dyslexia reflect dyslexia


Neural Correlations of Syntactic and Neural Correlations of Syntactic and Semantic Processing Semantic Processing ERP studiesERP studies

Looks for EEG activation by syntax Looks for EEG activation by syntax or semantic violationsor semantic violations

Syntactical error yielded spike in Syntactical error yielded spike in central (S/M) region functionscentral (S/M) region functions

Semantic error yielded spike in Semantic error yielded spike in parietal region functions parietal region functions


Neural Correlations of Syntactic and Neural Correlations of Syntactic and Semantic Processing Semantic Processing ERP studiesERP studies

Claims that syntax and semantic Claims that syntax and semantic analyses are processed by different analyses are processed by different processesprocesses


Propositional representationPropositional representation Comprehension decreasesa as Comprehension decreasesa as

propositonal complexity increasespropositonal complexity increases Inferences Inferences

DirectDirect Backwards Backwards ForwardForward


Examples of inferencesExamples of inferences Direct Direct

““The dentist pulled the tooth. The The dentist pulled the tooth. The patient liked the method.”patient liked the method.”

BackwardBackward““The tooth was pulled painlessly. The The tooth was pulled painlessly. The

dentist used a new method.” dentist used a new method.”


Examples of inferencesExamples of inferences ForwardForward

““The tooth was pulled painlessly. The The tooth was pulled painlessly. The patient liked the new method.”patient liked the new method.”

Forward inferences flow more readily to Forward inferences flow more readily to new materials, while backwards new materials, while backwards inferences are made in increase inferences are made in increase coherence, hence are more rapidcoherence, hence are more rapid


Language and Memory Language and Memory Loftus and Zanni (1975) nicely Loftus and Zanni (1975) nicely

demonstrated linguistic impact on demonstrated linguistic impact on memorymemory

““Did you see a broken headlight?”Did you see a broken headlight?”““Did you see the broken headlight?”Did you see the broken headlight?”

The later question elicited higher recall The later question elicited higher recall


Pronominal referencePronominal reference Often vague in writingOften vague in writing

Some “rules” of meaning (please do Some “rules” of meaning (please do not write this way)not write this way)

• 1. Number or gender cues1. Number or gender cues• 2. Similar grammatical role2. Similar grammatical role• 3. Strong recency effect3. Strong recency effect• 4. World knowledge4. World knowledge


Pronominal referencePronominal reference Often vague in writingOften vague in writing

Example:Example:• 1. “Tom shouted at Bill because he 1. “Tom shouted at Bill because he

spilled the coffee.”spilled the coffee.”• 2. “Tom shouted at Bill because 2. “Tom shouted at Bill because

he had a headache.”he had a headache.”


Processing negationProcessing negation Clause is processed first and then the Clause is processed first and then the

negation is analyzednegation is analyzed Negations are generally slower to Negations are generally slower to

process process


Text StructureText Structure Tends to have a hierarchical structureTends to have a hierarchical structure Recognition and understanding of the Recognition and understanding of the

hierarchical structure allows for hierarchical structure allows for increased reading comprehension and increased reading comprehension and memorymemory

A useful treatment for dyslexiaA useful treatment for dyslexia


Text ComprehensionText Comprehension Kintsch and van Dijk’s text Kintsch and van Dijk’s text

comprehension modelcomprehension model There appear to be four (+/-) There appear to be four (+/-)

propositions we can manage in working propositions we can manage in working memorymemory

This can be made much larger by This can be made much larger by reference to meaningful materialreference to meaningful material



comprehension modelcomprehension modelRecency and importance organize Recency and importance organize

propositionspropositions



comprehension modelcomprehension model Example of analysisExample of analysis Eisenhower v. Stevenson in 1952 Eisenhower v. Stevenson in 1952

presidential campaignpresidential campaign Speeches were similar in readability, Speeches were similar in readability,

Eisenhower’s more complexEisenhower’s more complex



comprehension modelcomprehension model Eisenhower v. Stevenson in 1952Eisenhower v. Stevenson in 1952 Steveson’s required a large number of Steveson’s required a large number of

bridging inferences, while Eisenhower’s bridging inferences, while Eisenhower’s did notdid not


SummarySummary 1. Syntax1. Syntax 2. Semantics2. Semantics 3. Parsing influence3. Parsing influence 4. Immediacy of interpretation4. Immediacy of interpretation 5. Language and memory5. Language and memory


SummarySummary 6. Neural correlates6. Neural correlates 7. Propositional relations7. Propositional relations 8. Text structure8. Text structure 9. Text comprehension9. Text comprehension

Documents

Language Comprehension Thomas G. Bowers, Ph.D. 2001