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Presentation 2017-07-22 11:10
Context and semantic composition of multiple dimension representations in real-time comprehension
Yao-Ying Lai (Yale Univ.), David Braze (Haskins Lab.), Maria Pinango (Yale Univ.) TL2017-14
Abstract (in Japanese) (See Japanese page) 
(in English) We investigate the role of context in sentential meaning composition of aspectual verbal predicates (AspV). This semantic class involves morpho-syntactically underspecified composition: Sentences with aspectual verbs, e.g., "Dave began/continued/finished this CD of classic Jazz hits" are semantically ambiguous between (i) an agentive reading along the eventive dimension (e.g., Dave began/continued/finished recording this CD...), in which the complement is a participant of an event, and (ii) a constitutive reading along the spatial/informational dimension (e.g., Dave's song was the first/medial/final track on this CD...), in which the complement refers to a physical entity or a body of informational content.
We hypothesize that AspVs (e.g., begin/continue/finish) require their complement to denote a structured individual, which is construed as an axis to be mapped along various dimensions (spatial, informational, temporal, eventive). This mapping is done via a set of lexical functions encoded in AspVs (e.g., f-space, f-info, f-time). The composition of an AspV + complement yields multiple dimension representations, and the ultimate sentence interpretation is determined by the specific dimension chosen in context.
Results of an eye-tracking experiment show a main effect of verb type, such that AspV sentences engendered longer reading times than the control condition (p<0.001). We did not observe an effect of context facilitation. This suggests that the lexical-function retrieval and dimension-ambiguity resolution process are initially encapsulated from the larger contextual circumstances of AspV utterances, and are therefore required as part of the meaning implementation of AspVs.
Conclusion: This study reveals that in real-time comprehension, (i) sentences involving dimension ambiguity engender more cost; (ii) exhaustive lexical retrieval and semantic composition of multiple dimension representations take place regardless of context. The role of context is likely to constrain, rather than determine, the appropriate sentence reading and only after multiple dimension representations are construed.
Keyword (in Japanese) (See Japanese page) 
(in English) Semantic composition / Context / Underspecification / Semantic ambiguity / Aspectual verbs / Lexical retrieval / Structured individuals / dimension representations  
Reference Info. IEICE Tech. Rep., vol. 117, no. 149, TL2017-14, pp. 7-11, July 2017.
Paper # TL2017-14 
Date of Issue 2017-07-15 (TL) 
ISSN Print edition: ISSN 0913-5685    Online edition: ISSN 2432-6380
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All rights are reserved and no part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Notwithstanding, instructors are permitted to photocopy isolated articles for noncommercial classroom use without fee. (License No.: 10GA0019/12GB0052/13GB0056/17GB0034/18GB0034)
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Conference Information
Committee TL  
Conference Date 2017-07-22 - 2017-07-23 
Place (in Japanese) (See Japanese page) 
Place (in English) NINJAL 
Topics (in Japanese) (See Japanese page) 
Topics (in English) Human Language Processing and Learning 
Paper Information
Registration To TL 
Conference Code 2017-07-TL 
Language English 
Title (in Japanese) (See Japanese page) 
Sub Title (in Japanese) (See Japanese page) 
Title (in English) Context and semantic composition of multiple dimension representations in real-time comprehension 
Sub Title (in English)  
Keyword(1) Semantic composition  
Keyword(2) Context  
Keyword(3) Underspecification  
Keyword(4) Semantic ambiguity  
Keyword(5) Aspectual verbs  
Keyword(6) Lexical retrieval  
Keyword(7) Structured individuals  
Keyword(8) dimension representations  
1st Author's Name Yao-Ying Lai  
1st Author's Affiliation Yale University (Yale Univ.)
2nd Author's Name David Braze  
2nd Author's Affiliation Haskins Laboratories (Haskins Lab.)
3rd Author's Name Maria Pinango  
3rd Author's Affiliation Yale University (Yale Univ.)
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Speaker Author-1 
Date Time 2017-07-22 11:10:00 
Presentation Time 30 minutes 
Registration for TL 
Paper # TL2017-14 
Volume (vol) vol.117 
Number (no) no.149 
Page pp.7-11 
#Pages
Date of Issue 2017-07-15 (TL) 


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