The time-course of prediction in incremental sentence processing: Evidence from anticipatory eye-movements

摘要: Three eye-tracking experiments using the ‘visual-world’ paradigm are described that explore basis by which thematic dependencies can be evaluated in advance of linguistic input unambiguously signals those dependencies. Following Altmann and Kamide (1999), who found selectional information conveyed a verb used to anticipate an upcoming Theme, we attempt draw here more precise picture for such anticipatory processing. Our data from two studies English one Japanese suggest (a) verb-based is not limited anticipating immediately following (grammatical) object, but also later occurring objects (e.g., Goals), (b) combination with verb, pre-verbal argument (Agent) constrain anticipation subsequent (c) head-final construction as typically Japanese, both syntactic semantic constraints extracted arguments enable anticipation, effect, further forthcoming absence their head (the verb). We processing hallmark incremental processor able on different sources (some non-linguistic) at earliest possible opportunity establish fullest interpretation each moment time.