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Competition during the processing of quantifier scope ambiguities: evidence from eye movements during reading

Competition during the processing of quantifier scope ambiguities: evidence from eye movements during reading
Competition during the processing of quantifier scope ambiguities: evidence from eye movements during reading
We investigated the processing of sentences containing a quantifier scope ambiguity, such as Kelly showed a photo to each critic, which is ambiguous between the indefinite phrase (a photo) having one or many referents. Ambiguity resolution requires the computation of relative quantifier scope, with either a photo or each critic taking wide scope, thereby determining the number of referents. Using eye tracking, we established that multiple factors, including the grammatical function and surface linear order of quantified phrases, along with their lexical characteristics, interact during the processing of relative quantifier scope, with conflict between factors incurring a processing cost. We discuss the results in terms of theoretical accounts attributing sentence-processing difficulty to either reanalysis (e.g., Fodor, 1982) or competition between rival analyses.
1747-0218
459-473
Paterson, K.B.
d0490bb9-a002-4b1b-b474-6d42c84177ff
Filik, R.
6d3ef064-0900-41b7-80f9-16919da01cb7
Liversedge, S.P.
3ebda3f3-d930-4f89-85d5-5654d8fe7dee
Paterson, K.B.
d0490bb9-a002-4b1b-b474-6d42c84177ff
Filik, R.
6d3ef064-0900-41b7-80f9-16919da01cb7
Liversedge, S.P.
3ebda3f3-d930-4f89-85d5-5654d8fe7dee

Paterson, K.B., Filik, R. and Liversedge, S.P. (2008) Competition during the processing of quantifier scope ambiguities: evidence from eye movements during reading. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 61 (3), 459-473. (doi:10.1080/17470210701255317).

Record type: Article

Abstract

We investigated the processing of sentences containing a quantifier scope ambiguity, such as Kelly showed a photo to each critic, which is ambiguous between the indefinite phrase (a photo) having one or many referents. Ambiguity resolution requires the computation of relative quantifier scope, with either a photo or each critic taking wide scope, thereby determining the number of referents. Using eye tracking, we established that multiple factors, including the grammatical function and surface linear order of quantified phrases, along with their lexical characteristics, interact during the processing of relative quantifier scope, with conflict between factors incurring a processing cost. We discuss the results in terms of theoretical accounts attributing sentence-processing difficulty to either reanalysis (e.g., Fodor, 1982) or competition between rival analyses.

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Published date: March 2008

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 55160
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/55160
ISSN: 1747-0218
PURE UUID: 98aaa8f6-6452-40f7-adf3-2c864885fbc0

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Date deposited: 04 Aug 2008
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 10:52

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Contributors

Author: K.B. Paterson
Author: R. Filik
Author: S.P. Liversedge

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