Skip to main content

Part of the book series: Neuropsychology and Cognition ((NPCO,volume 14))

  • 278 Accesses

Abstract

This study investigated how a person comprehends a subject-verb-object (SVO) sentence. In two experiments subjects comprehended sentences to form unitary representations in a sentence-picture verification task. Reference scope (superordinates or subordinates) and location of superordinates were manipulated. Both effects of reference scope and location of superordinates were obtained. These findings support a slot-filling model of sentence comprehension in which subjects successively create a slot for filling the previously integrated unit in comprehending a sentence. The slot-filling model should apply to comprehending English as well as Chinese sentences.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Cohen, B. & Murphy, G.L. (1984). Models of concepts, Cognitive Science 8: 27–58. Ferreira, F. & Clifton, C. (1986). The independence of syntactic processing, Journal of Memory and Language 25: 348–368.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frazier, L. & Rayner, K. (1987). Resolution of syntactic category ambiguities: Eye movements in parsing lexically ambiguous sentences, Journal of Memory and Language 26: 505–526.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu, I.M. (1980). Separating comprehension from the verification process, Memory & Cognition 8: 75–83.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu, I.M. (1982). The retroactive effect of argument overlap on sentence retrieval, American Journal of Psychology 95: 85–101.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marslen-Wilson, W.D. (1987). Functional parallelism in spoken work-recognition, Cognition 25: 71–102.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Medin, D.L. & Schoben, E.J. (1988). Context and structure in conceptual combination, Cognitive Psychology 20: 158–190.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Murphy, G.L. (1988). Comprehending complex concepts, Cognitive Science 12: 529–562. Peterson, L.R. & Peterson, M.J. (1959). Short-term retention of individual items, Journal of Experimental Psychology 58: 193–198.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rayner, K., Carlson, M. & Frazier, L. (1983). The interaction of syntax and semantics during sentence processing: Eye movements in the analysis of semantically biased sentences, Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior 22: 358–374.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith, E.E. & Osherson, D.N. (1984). Conceptual combination with prototype concepts, Cognitive Science 8: 337–361.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taraban, R. & McClelland, J.L. (1988). Constituent attachment and thematic role assignment in sentence processing: Influences on content-based expectations, Journal of Memory and Language 27: 597–632.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tyler, L.K. & Marslen-Wilson, W.D. (1977). The on-line effects of semantic context on syntactic processing, Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior 16: 683–692.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wisniewski, E.J. & Gentner, D. (1991). On the combinatorial semantics of noun pairs: Minor and major adjustments to meaning. In: G.B. Simpson (ed.), Understanding word and sentence (pp. 241–284 ). Amsterdam: Elsevier.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to In-Mao Liu .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1998 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Liu, IM. (1998). A slot-filling model of sentence comprehension. In: Leong, C.K., Tamaoka, K. (eds) Cognitive Processing of the Chinese and the Japanese Languages. Neuropsychology and Cognition, vol 14. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-9161-4_6

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-9161-4_6

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-90-481-5140-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-015-9161-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics