Limits on expectation-based processing: Use of grammatical aspect for co-reference in L2

Abstract This study examines the use of discourse-level information to create expectations about reference in real-time processing, testing whether patterns previously observed among native speakers of English generalize to nonnative speakers. Findings from a visual-world eye-tracking experiment show that native (L1; N = 53) but not nonnative (L2; N = 52) listeners’ proactive coreference expectations are modulated by grammatical aspect in transfer-of-possession events. Results from an offline judgment task show these L2 participants did not differ from L1 speakers in their interpretation of aspect marking on transfer-of-possession predicates in English, indicating it is not lack of linguistic knowledge but utilization of this knowledge in real-time processing that distinguishes the groups. English proficiency, although varying substantially within the L2 group, did not modulate L2 listeners’ use of grammatical aspect for reference processing. These findings contribute to the broader endeavor of delineating the role of prediction in human language processing in general, and in the processing of discourse-level information among L2 users in particular.

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Putting up barriers

10.1093/oso/9780198785156.003.0001 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

David J. Lobina

Keyword(s):

Knowledge Base ◽

Real Time ◽

Language Processing ◽

Cognitive Domain ◽

Linguistic Knowledge ◽

Levels Of Explanation ◽

Real Time Processing ◽

Time Processing ◽

Neural Underpinnings ◽

Different Levels

The study of cognitive phenomena is best approached in an orderly manner. It must begin with an analysis of the function in intension at the heart of any cognitive domain (its knowledge base), then proceed to the manner in which such knowledge is put into use in real-time processing, concluding with a domain’s neural underpinnings, its development in ontogeny, etc. Such an approach to the study of cognition involves the adoption of different levels of explanation/description, as prescribed by David Marr and many others, each level requiring its own methodology and supplying its own data to be accounted for. The study of recursion in cognition is badly in need of a systematic and well-ordered approach, and this chapter lays out the blueprint to be followed in the book by focusing on a strict separation between how this notion applies in linguistic knowledge and how it manifests itself in language processing.

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L2 Knowledge of the Obligatory French Subjunctive: Offline Measures and Eye Tracking Compared

Languages ◽

10.3390/languages6010031 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

pp. 31

Author(s):

Amber Dudley ◽

Roumyana Slabakova

Keyword(s):

Eye Tracking ◽

Real Time ◽

Judgment Task ◽

Grammatical Knowledge ◽

Real Time Processing ◽

Time Processing ◽

L2 Learners ◽

Reading Experiment ◽

Computational Resources ◽

L1 And L2

Extensive research has shown that second language (L2) learners find it difficult to apply grammatical knowledge during real-time processing, especially when differences exist between the first (L1) and L2. The current study examines the extent to which British English-speaking learners of French can apply their grammatical knowledge of the French subjunctive during real-time processing, and whether this ability is modulated by the properties of the L1 grammar, and/or proficiency. Data from an acceptability judgment task and an eye-tracking during reading experiment revealed that L2 learners had knowledge of the subjunctive, but were unable to apply this knowledge when reading for comprehension. Such findings therefore suggest that L2 knowledge of the subjunctive, at least at the proficiency levels tested in this study, is largely metalinguistic (explicit) in nature and that reduced lexical access and/or limited computational resources (e.g., working memory) prevented learners from fully utilising their grammatical representations during real-time processing.

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Fault Diagnosis System of Power Grid Based on Multi-Data Sources

Applied Sciences ◽

10.3390/app11167649 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (16) ◽

pp. 7649

Author(s):

Jinjie Ji ◽

Qing Chen ◽

Lei Jin ◽

Xiaotong Zhou ◽

Wei Ding

Keyword(s):

Fault Diagnosis ◽

Real Time ◽

Power Grid ◽

Processing System ◽

Data Sources ◽

Circuit Breakers ◽

Real Time Processing ◽

Time Processing ◽

Level Information ◽

Fault Diagnosis System

In order to complete the function of power grid fault diagnosis accurately, rapidly and comprehensively, the power grid fault diagnosis system based on multi-data sources is proposed. The integrated system uses accident-level information, warning-level information and fault recording documents and outputs a complete diagnosis and tracking report. According to the timeliness of three types of information transmission, the system is divided into three subsystems: real-time processing system, quasi-real-time processing system and batch processing system. The complete work is realized through the cooperation between them. While a real-time processing system completes fault diagnosis of elements, it also screens out incorrectly operating protections and circuit breakers and judges the loss of accident-level information. Quasi-real-time system outputs reasons for incorrect actions of protections and circuit breakers under the premise of considering partial warning-level information missing. The batch processing system corrects diagnosis results of the real-time processing system and outputs fault details, including fault phases, types, times and locations of faulty elements. The simulation results and test show that the system can meet actual engineering requirements in terms of execution efficiency and fault diagnosis and tracking effect. It can be used as a reference for self-healing and maintenance of power grids and has a preferable application value.

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Real-time processing of event descriptions for partially- and fully-completed events: Evidence from the visual world paradigm

Proceedings of the Linguistic Society of America ◽

10.3765/plsa.v6i1.4954 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

pp. 118

Author(s):

Max J. Kaplan ◽

Amulya Raju ◽

Sudha Arunachalam

Keyword(s):

Real Time ◽

Language Processing ◽

Visual World ◽

Visual World Paradigm ◽

Real Time Processing ◽

Time Processing ◽

Semantic Account ◽

Verb Forms ◽

Partial Completion ◽

English Speaking

The current study investigated non-culminating accomplishments through an experimental lens. We used a well-established paradigm for studying real-time language processing using eye-tracking, the visual world paradigm. Our study was modeled after Altmann and Kamide’s (2007) investigation of processing of aspectual information contained in a perfect verb form (e.g., has eaten). We compared English-speaking adults’ interpretations of sentences like ‘The girl has eaten a cookie’ and ‘The girl was eating a cookie’ in the context of one of two visual scenes. In the Full Completion condition, the scene depicted two referents that were compatible with the predicate: one was compatible with the expected end state of the event (e.g., an empty plate), the other with an unrealized version of the event (e.g., an uneaten cookie). In the Partial Completion condition, the scene depicted a referent that was compatible with a partially-completed version of the event (e.g., part of a cookie on a plate) and an unrealized interpretation (e.g., an uneaten cookie). For verb forms in the perfect (e.g., has eaten) but not in the progressive, we found a difference between conditions; listeners preferred to look at the fully-affected referent in the Full Completion condition as compared to the partially-affected referent in the Partial Completion condition. We take the results as suggestive in favor of a pragmatic rather than semantic account of non-culmination interpretations in English.

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