Ambiguity Resolution: The Role of Input Cues and Working Memory Capacity

目的是通过研究语言处理系统如何处理歧义来研究语言处理系统的体系结构。对比了两类模型：序列模型，其中只考虑对歧义的一种解释，以及约束并行模型，其中可以简单地并行考虑几种解释。第二个因素是概率线索是否会影响对歧义产生的解释。研究了两种不同的歧义：句法歧义和代词指称歧义。具体目的是研究1)歧义发生前和歧义发生后线索的相互作用；2)来自不同语言学表征层次的线索的相互作用，如句法和话语层面的线索；歧义解决的个体差异是工作记忆容量的函数。早期的研究在很大程度上依赖于一个依赖的测量，即消除歧义的阅读时间。本文提出了六个补充措施：1)检查其他区域的阅读时间；2)研究中歧义是用一种非常受欢迎的解释来解决的；3)检查歧义之后的线索；4)在连续体上调节刺激以操纵线索强度；5)使用个体差异检查。预计这些方法的加入将比以前的许多工作更精确地区分相反的模型。

ABSTRACT The goal is to investigate the architecture of the language processing system via the study of how the system copes with ambiguity. Two classes of models are contrasted: serial models, in which only one interpretation of an ambiguity is considered, and constrained parallel models, in which several interpretations may be briefly considered in parallel. A second factor is whether probabilistic cues may influence the interpretation(s) that are generated for an ambiguity. Two different ambiguities are investigated: syntactic ambiguities and pronominal reference ambiguities. The specific aims are to investigate 1) the interaction of cues that are encountered before an ambiguity and ones encountered after an ambiguity, 2) the interaction of cues from different levels of linguistics representations, such as syntactic and discourse-level cues, and 3) individual differences in ambiguity resolution as a function of working memory capacity. Earlier research has relied heavily on one dependent measure, reading time at the disambiguation. Six supplementary measures are proposed: 1) examination of reading time in other regions, 2) studies in which ambiguities are resolved with a highly favored interpretation, 3) examination of cues that follow the ambiguity, 4) norming of stimuli to manipulate cue strength on a continuum, 5) the use of examination of individual differences. It is expected that the addition of these methods will distinguish the opposing models more precisely than in much previous work.