Language comprehension Psycholinguistics

one question in realm of language comprehension how people understand sentences read (also known sentence processing). experimental research has spawned number of theories architecture , mechanisms of sentence comprehension. typically these theories concerned types of information contained in sentence reader can use build meaning, , @ point in reading information become available reader. issues such modular versus interactive processing have been theoretical divides in field.

a modular view of sentence processing assumes stages involved in reading sentence function independently in separate modules. these modulates have limited interaction 1 another. example, 1 influential theory of sentence processing, garden-path theory, states syntactic analysis takes place first. under theory reader reading sentence, or creates simplest structure possible in order minimize effort , cognitive load. done without input semantic analysis or context-dependent information. hence, in sentence evidence examined lawyer turned out unreliable, time reader gets word examined or has committed reading of sentence in evidence examining because simplest parse. commitment made despite fact results in implausible situation; know experience evidence can if ever examine something. under syntax first theory, semantic information processed @ later stage. later reader recognize or needs revise initial parse 1 in evidence being examined. in example, readers typically recognize misparse time reach lawyer , must go , re-parse sentence. reanalysis costly , contributes slower reading times.

in contrast modular account, interactive theory of sentence processing, such constraint-based lexical approach assumes available information contained within sentence can processed @ time. under interactive account, example, semantics of sentence (such plausibility) can come play on in order determine structure of sentence. hence, in sentence above, reader able make use of plausibility information in order assume evidence being examined instead of doing examining. there data support both modular , interactive accounts; account correct 1 still debate.