Processing dependencies
The thesis assumes that a theory of language should be evaluated with reference to both linguistic and psycholinguistic evidence, and that the processor makes use of the rules of the grammar directly. It contends that most current linguistic theories are not adequate in this respect, and concentrates on one major issue, that these theories are unable to represent the fact that we can begin an interpretation of an utterance before it is completed. It is argued that this is due to the assumption that sentences should be represented by the devices of phrase structure grammar which includes rigid, non-overlapping constituents. It suggests that these should be replaced by a flexible notion of constituency, based on a generalized notion of dependency, which is called dependency constituency. The thesis then shows how this notion can be represented in the grammatical framework known as the Lambek Calculus, by means of a very simple restriction on the permitted opeations. It then shows how this allows a new characterization of strings that can be coordinated, which it is argued captures the relevant data better than competing theories. The thesis then proposes an account of human sentence processing based on dependency
Pickering, Martin J.
Processing dependencies. The thesis assumes that a theory of language should be evaluated with reference to both linguistic and psycholinguistic evidence, and that the processor makes use of the rules of the grammar directly. It contends that most current linguistic theories are not adequate in this respect, and concentrates on one major issue, that these theories are unable to represent the fact that we can begin an interpretation of an utterance before it is completed. It is argued that this is due to the assumption that sentences should be represented by the devices of phrase structure grammar which includes rigid, non-overlapping constituents. It suggests that these should be replaced by a flexible notion of constituency, based on a generalized notion of dependency, which is called dependency constituency. The thesis then shows how this notion can be represented in the grammatical framework known as the Lambek Calculus, by means of a very simple restriction on the permitted opeations. It then shows how this allows a new characterization of strings that can be coordinated, which it is argued captures the relevant data better than competing theories. The thesis then proposes an account of human sentence processing based on dependency
processing dependency assumes theory language evaluate reference linguistic psycholinguistic evidence processor make_use rule grammar directly contend current linguistic_theory adequate respect concentrate one_major issue theory unable represent fact begin interpretation utterance complete argue due assumption sentence represent device phrase_structure_grammar include rigid non constituent suggests replace flexible notion constituency base generalized notion dependency call dependency constituency show notion represent grammatical framework know calculus mean simple restriction permit show allow new characterization string coordinate argue capture relevant data well compete theory proposes account human sentence_processing base dependency