scholarly journals Extended Perspective Shift and Discourse Economy in Language Processing

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jesse A. Harris
Keyword(s):  
Language Processing ◽  
Discourse Processing ◽  
Contextual Cues ◽  
Current Perspective ◽  
Narrative Reporting ◽  
Narrative Forms

Research spanning linguistics, psychology, and philosophy suggests that speakers and hearers are finely attuned to perspectives and viewpoints that are not their own, even though perspectival information is not encoded directly in the morphosyntax of languages like English. While some terms seem to require a perspective or a judge for interpretation (e.g., epithets, evaluative adjectives, locational PPs, etc.), perspective may also be determined on the basis of subtle information spanning multiple sentences, especially in vivid styles of narrative reporting. In this paper, I develop an account of the cues that are involved in evaluating and maintaining non-speaker perspectives, and present an economy-based discourse processing model of perspective that embodies two core principles. First, perspectives are subject to a “speaker-default,” but may shift to a non-speaker perspective if sufficient contextual cues are provided. Second, the processor follows the path of least resistance to maintaining perspective, opting to maintain the current perspective across sentences as long as the shifted perspective continues to be coherent. The predictions of the model are tested in a series of offline and online studies, manipulating the form of an attitude report and the tense of the sentence that follows. Implications for processing perspective and viewpoint in speech and narrative forms are explored.

Efficiency in discourse processing: Does morphosyntax adapt to accommodate new referents?

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (s3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan Schnell ◽  
Nils Norman Schiborr ◽  
Geoffrey Haig
Keyword(s):  
Language Processing ◽  
Discourse Processing ◽  
Discourse Production ◽  
State Of Mind ◽  
Cognitive Challenge ◽  
Direct Objects

Abstract The introduction of new referents into discourse has traditionally been regarded as a major challenge to language processing, for which speakers deploy specific syntactic configurations, guided by the speaker’s assessment of the recipient’s state of mind (‘recipient design’). In this paper we probe these assumptions against discourse data from nine languages. We find little evidence for specialized syntactic configurations accommodating new referents; the only notable exception is the association of new reference with direct objects, suggests that linking new referents to already established discourse frames through a transitive construction is preferable to isolating them in an intransitive one. Where specific intransitive predicates are indeed found to host new referents, we find this to be motivated primarily by semantic considerations. Contrary to long-held assumptions, we conclude that the cognitive challenge of referent introduction is only weakly reflected in morphosyntax; instead, discourse production is most efficient when new referents are integrated seamlessly with content-driven demands of the narration.

Models of Discourse Representation

2021 ◽  
pp. 276-356
Author(s):  
Erik D. Reichle
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Analysis ◽  
Language Processing ◽  
Representative Sample ◽  
Text Processing ◽  
Discourse Processing ◽  
Discourse Representation ◽  
Ongoing Debate ◽  
Large Representative

This chapter first describes what has been learned about how readers represent the meaning of discourse by integrating the meanings to individual sentences to construct the representations needed to understand larger segments of text. The chapter reviews the key findings related to text processing and how this sparked an ongoing debate about the extent to which the making of inferences during reading is obligatory. The chapter reviews precursor theories and models of discourse representation that attempt to explain how discourse representations are generated via the interaction of language processing and memory. The chapter then reviews a large, representative sample of the models that have been used to simulate and understand aspects of discourse processing. They are reviewed in their order of development to show how the models have evolved to accommodate new empirical findings. The chapter concludes with an explicit comparative analysis of the discourse-processing models and discusses the empirical findings that each model can and cannot explain.

scholarly journals Using eye-tracking to investigate topics in L2 acquisition and L2 sentence and discourse processing

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
L Roberts ◽  
Anna Siyanova
Keyword(s):  
Eye Tracking ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Language Processing ◽  
Discourse Processing ◽  
Target Language ◽  
L2 Acquisition ◽  
Cambridge University ◽  
L2 Processing ◽  
Major Benefit ◽  
The Moment

Second language (L2) researchers are becoming more interested in both L2 learners' knowledge of the target language and how that knowledge is put to use during real-time language processing. Researchers are therefore beginning to see the importance of combining traditional L2 research methods with those that capture the moment-by-moment interpretation of the target language, such as eye-tracking. The major benefit of the eye-tracking method is that it can tap into real-time (or online) comprehension processes during the uninterrupted processing of the input, and thus, the data can be compared to those elicited by other, more metalinguistic tasks to offer a broader picture of language acquisition and processing. In this article, we present an overview of the eye-tracking technique and illustrate the method with L2 studies that show how eye-tracking data can be used to (a) investigate language-related topics and (b) inform key debates in the fields of L2 acquisition and L2 processing. Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2013.

scholarly journals Using eye-tracking to investigate topics in L2 acquisition and L2 sentence and discourse processing

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
L Roberts ◽  
Anna Siyanova
Keyword(s):  
Eye Tracking ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Language Processing ◽  
Discourse Processing ◽  
Target Language ◽  
L2 Acquisition ◽  
Cambridge University ◽  
L2 Processing ◽  
Major Benefit ◽  
The Moment

Second language (L2) researchers are becoming more interested in both L2 learners' knowledge of the target language and how that knowledge is put to use during real-time language processing. Researchers are therefore beginning to see the importance of combining traditional L2 research methods with those that capture the moment-by-moment interpretation of the target language, such as eye-tracking. The major benefit of the eye-tracking method is that it can tap into real-time (or online) comprehension processes during the uninterrupted processing of the input, and thus, the data can be compared to those elicited by other, more metalinguistic tasks to offer a broader picture of language acquisition and processing. In this article, we present an overview of the eye-tracking technique and illustrate the method with L2 studies that show how eye-tracking data can be used to (a) investigate language-related topics and (b) inform key debates in the fields of L2 acquisition and L2 processing. Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2013.

Analyzing Discourse Processing Using a Simple Natural Language Processing Tool

2014 ◽  
Vol 51 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 511-534 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott A. Crossley ◽  
Laura K. Allen ◽  
Kristopher Kyle ◽  
Danielle S. McNamara
Keyword(s):  
Natural Language Processing ◽  
Natural Language ◽  
Language Processing ◽  
Discourse Processing ◽  
Natural Language Processing Tool

scholarly journals Context Predicts Word Order Processing in Broca's Region

2014 ◽  
Vol 26 (12) ◽  
pp. 2762-2777 ◽  
Author(s):  
Line Burholt Kristensen ◽  
Elisabeth Engberg-Pedersen ◽  
Mikkel Wallentin
Keyword(s):  
Language Processing ◽  
Word Order ◽  
Inferior Frontal Gyrus ◽  
Contextual Cues ◽  
Left Inferior Frontal Gyrus ◽  
Order Processing ◽  
Fmri Study ◽  
Confounding Variables ◽  
Broca’S Region ◽  
Linguistic Structures

The function of the left inferior frontal gyrus (L-IFG) is highly disputed. A number of language processing studies have linked the region to the processing of syntactical structure. Still, there is little agreement when it comes to defining why linguistic structures differ in their effects on the L-IFG. In a number of languages, the processing of object-initial sentences affects the L-IFG more than the processing of subject-initial ones, but frequency and distribution differences may act as confounding variables. Syntactically complex structures (like the object-initial construction in Danish) are often less frequent and only viable in certain contexts. With this confound in mind, the L-IFG activation may be sensitive to other variables than a syntax manipulation on its own. The present fMRI study investigates the effect of a pragmatically appropriate context on the processing of subject-initial and object-initial clauses with the IFG as our ROI. We find that Danish object-initial clauses yield a higher BOLD response in L-IFG, but we also find an interaction between appropriateness of context and word order. This interaction overlaps with traditional syntax areas in the IFG. For object-initial clauses, the effect of an appropriate context is bigger than for subject-initial clauses. This result is supported by an acceptability study that shows that, given appropriate contexts, object-initial clauses are considered more appropriate than subject-initial clauses. The increased L-IFG activation for processing object-initial clauses without a supportive context may be interpreted as reflecting either reinterpretation or the recipients' failure to correctly predict word order from contextual cues.

scholarly journals Confusion2Vec: towards enriching vector space word representations with representational ambiguities

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. e195 ◽  
Author(s):  
Prashanth Gurunath Shivakumar ◽  
Panayiotis Georgiou
Keyword(s):  
Vector Space ◽  
Language Processing ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Acoustic Similarity ◽  
Vector Representation ◽  
Sources Of Information ◽  
Contextual Cues ◽  
Word Similarity ◽  
Morphological Transformations ◽  
Vector Representations

Word vector representations are a crucial part of natural language processing (NLP) and human computer interaction. In this paper, we propose a novel word vector representation, Confusion2Vec, motivated from the human speech production and perception that encodes representational ambiguity. Humans employ both acoustic similarity cues and contextual cues to decode information and we focus on a model that incorporates both sources of information. The representational ambiguity of acoustics, which manifests itself in word confusions, is often resolved by both humans and machines through contextual cues. A range of representational ambiguities can emerge in various domains further to acoustic perception, such as morphological transformations, word segmentation, paraphrasing for NLP tasks like machine translation, etc. In this work, we present a case study in application to automatic speech recognition (ASR) task, where the word representational ambiguities/confusions are related to acoustic similarity. We present several techniques to train an acoustic perceptual similarity representation ambiguity. We term this Confusion2Vec and learn on unsupervised-generated data from ASR confusion networks or lattice-like structures. Appropriate evaluations for the Confusion2Vec are formulated for gauging acoustic similarity in addition to semantic–syntactic and word similarity evaluations. The Confusion2Vec is able to model word confusions efficiently, without compromising on the semantic-syntactic word relations, thus effectively enriching the word vector space with extra task relevant ambiguity information. We provide an intuitive exploration of the two-dimensional Confusion2Vec space using principal component analysis of the embedding and relate to semantic relationships, syntactic relationships, and acoustic relationships. We show through this that the new space preserves the semantic/syntactic relationships while robustly encoding acoustic similarities. The potential of the new vector representation and its ability in the utilization of uncertainty information associated with the lattice is demonstrated through small examples relating to the task of ASR error correction.

scholarly journals Intersentential coreference expectations reflect mental models of events

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Theres Grüter ◽  
Aya Takeda ◽  
Hannah Rohde ◽  
Amy J. Schafer
Keyword(s):  
Mental Models ◽  
Language Processing ◽  
Mental Model ◽  
Temporal Dynamics ◽  
Discourse Processing ◽  
Mental Event ◽  
Event Representation ◽  
The World ◽  
Incoming Information ◽  
New Evidence

Comprehenders’ perception of the world is mediated by the mental models they construct. During discourse processing, incoming information allows comprehenders to update their model of the events being described. At the same time, comprehenders use these models to generate expectations about who or what will be mentioned next. The temporal dynamics of this interdependence between language processing and mental event representation has been difficult to disentangle. The present visual world eye-tracking experiment measures listeners’ coreference expectations during an intersentential pause between a sentence about a transfer-of-possession event and a continuation mentioning either its Source or Goal. We found a temporally dispersed but sustained preference for fixating the Goal that was significantly greater when the event was described as completed rather than incomplete (passed versus was passing). This aligns with reported offline sensitivity to event structure, as conveyed via verb aspect, and provides new evidence that our mental model of an event leads to early and, crucially, proactive expectations about subsequent mention in the upcoming discourse.

scholarly journals LANGUAGE COMPETENCE OF STUDENT TOWARD RIGHT HEMISPHER BRAIN FUNCTION : A Neuropragmatic Study

2015 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Handoko Handoko ◽  
Gusdi Sastra ◽  
Ike Revita
Keyword(s):  
Language Processing ◽  
Brain Function ◽  
Right Hemisphere ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Discourse Processing ◽  
English Department ◽  
Paper Test ◽  
Language Competence ◽  
Communication Assessment ◽  
The Right

It has been known that the right hemisphere is contributed to language processing, especially in macro level, including macrostructure or discourse processing. This research is aimed at evaluating the students’ ability in language processing concerning macrostructure and the right hemispher brain function. This research is based on Dharmaperwira-prins method “Right Hemisphere Communication Assessment” (Pemeriksaan Komunikasi Hemisfer Kanan/PKHK). Research on students’ ability in macrostructure processing is important to conduct since students nowadays are regarded lack of ability in well being communication. The research is conducted toward 38 students of English Department of Andalas University. The data are taken by paper test which is designed to evaluate the students’ ability in macrostructure. The result of research shows that most students have problems in providing important information, adjective, and feeling. By this result, it can be assumed that the participants have problem in right hemisphere competence concerning to language processing. These problems evoke not by accident or lesion in right hemisphere, yet it is caused by brain development which is focused on left hemisphere only.Keyword: Right Hemisphere, Language Assessment, Lexical Semantic, Macrostructure, Pragmatic

Lexical and contextual cue effects in discourse expectations: Experimenting with German 'zwar...aber' and English 'true/sure...but'

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Juliane Schwab ◽  
Mingya Liu
Keyword(s):  
Discourse Markers ◽  
Discourse Processing ◽  
Linguistic Variation ◽  
Contextual Cues ◽  
Discourse Marker ◽  
Linguistic Cues

Existing literature shows that readers and listeners rapidly adjust their expectations about likely discourse continuations through discourse markers, as well as through other linguistic and extra-linguistic cues. However, it is unclear whether (i) the facilitative effects of various (extra-)linguistic cues differ in quality and (ii) whether the effects interact with one another in any principled manner. We conducted two self-paced reading experiments on concessive constructions in German and English wherein optional lexical and/or contextual cues appeared ahead of the concessive discourse marker. The results demonstrate that readers can use both types of cues to anticipate the upcoming discourse relation. Our study thus provides novel evidence for expectation-driven accounts of discourse processing and elucidates the functions of discourse signals. Furthermore, the results also show that the role that a type of cues plays is subject to cross-linguistic variation.

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