A Content-Addressable Pointer Mechanism Underlies Comprehension of Verb-Phrase Ellipsis

Autor/inn/en	Martin, Andrea E.; McElree, Brian
Titel	A Content-Addressable Pointer Mechanism Underlies Comprehension of Verb-Phrase Ellipsis
Quelle	In: Journal of Memory and Language, 58 (2008) 3, S.879-906 (28 Seiten) PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0749-596X
DOI	10.1016/j.jml.2007.06.010
Schlagwörter	Verbs; Memory; Information Retrieval; Eye Movements; Interpretive Skills; Experiments; Time on Task; Comprehension; Cognitive Processes + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Gedächtnis; Augenbewegung; Interpretationsmethode; Erprobung; Zeitaufwand; Verstehen; Verständnis; Cognitive process; Kognitiver Prozess
Abstract	Interpreting a verb-phrase ellipsis (VP ellipsis) requires accessing an antecedent in memory, and then integrating a representation of this antecedent into the local context. We investigated the online interpretation of VP ellipsis in an eye-tracking experiment and four speed-accuracy tradeoff experiments. To investigate whether the antecedent for a VP ellipsis is accessed with a search or direct-access retrieval process, Experiments 1 and 2 measured the effect of the distance between an ellipsis and its antecedent on the speed and accuracy of comprehension. Accuracy was lower with longer distances, indicating that interpolated material reduced the quality of retrieved information about the antecedent. However, contra a search process, distance did not affect the speed of interpreting ellipsis. This pattern suggests that antecedent representations are content-addressable and retrieved with a direct-access process. To determine whether interpreting ellipsis involves copying antecedent information into the ellipsis site, Experiments 3-5 manipulated the length and complexity of the antecedent. Some types of antecedent complexity lowered accuracy, notably, the number of discourse entities in the antecedent. However, neither antecedent length nor complexity affected the speed of interpreting the ellipsis. This pattern is inconsistent with a copy operation, and it suggests that ellipsis interpretation may involve a pointer to extant structures in memory. (Author).
Anmerkungen	Elsevier. 6277 Sea Harbor Drive, Orlando, FL 32887-4800. Tel: 877-839-7126; Tel: 407-345-4020; Fax: 407-363-1354; e-mail: usjcs@elsevier.com; Web site: http://www.elsevier.com
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10