Abstract
The effects of word predictability and shared semantic similarity between a target word and other words that could have taken its place in a sentence on language comprehension are investigated using data from a reading time study, a sentence completion study, and linear mixed-effects regression modeling. We find that processing is facilitated if the different possible words that could occur in a given context are semantically similar to each other, meaning that processing is affected not only by the nature of the words that do occur, but also the relationships between the words that do occur and those that could have occurred. We discuss possible causes of the semantic similarity effect and point to possible limitations of using probability as a model of cognitive effort.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 267-279 |
| Number of pages | 13 |
| Journal | Cognition |
| Volume | 122 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2012 Mar 1 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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Keywords
- Parsing
- Prediction
- Semantic similarity
- Sentence processing
- Spreading activation
- Surprisal
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
- Language and Linguistics
- Developmental and Educational Psychology
- Linguistics and Language
- Cognitive Neuroscience
Cite this
Semantic similarity, predictability, and models of sentence processing. / Roland, Douglas William; Yun, Hongoak; Koenig, Jean Pierre; Mauner, Gail.
In: Cognition, Vol. 122, No. 3, 01.03.2012, p. 267-279.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Semantic similarity, predictability, and models of sentence processing
AU - Roland, Douglas William
AU - Yun, Hongoak
AU - Koenig, Jean Pierre
AU - Mauner, Gail
PY - 2012/3/1
Y1 - 2012/3/1
N2 - The effects of word predictability and shared semantic similarity between a target word and other words that could have taken its place in a sentence on language comprehension are investigated using data from a reading time study, a sentence completion study, and linear mixed-effects regression modeling. We find that processing is facilitated if the different possible words that could occur in a given context are semantically similar to each other, meaning that processing is affected not only by the nature of the words that do occur, but also the relationships between the words that do occur and those that could have occurred. We discuss possible causes of the semantic similarity effect and point to possible limitations of using probability as a model of cognitive effort.
AB - The effects of word predictability and shared semantic similarity between a target word and other words that could have taken its place in a sentence on language comprehension are investigated using data from a reading time study, a sentence completion study, and linear mixed-effects regression modeling. We find that processing is facilitated if the different possible words that could occur in a given context are semantically similar to each other, meaning that processing is affected not only by the nature of the words that do occur, but also the relationships between the words that do occur and those that could have occurred. We discuss possible causes of the semantic similarity effect and point to possible limitations of using probability as a model of cognitive effort.
KW - Parsing
KW - Prediction
KW - Semantic similarity
KW - Sentence processing
KW - Spreading activation
KW - Surprisal
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84855893468&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84855893468&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.cognition.2011.11.011
DO - 10.1016/j.cognition.2011.11.011
M3 - Article
C2 - 22197059
AN - SCOPUS:84855893468
VL - 122
SP - 267
EP - 279
JO - Cognition
JF - Cognition
SN - 0010-0277
IS - 3
ER -