Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
7268753 | Journal of Neurolinguistics | 2018 | 12 Pages |
Abstract
This study investigated how pragmatic inference making is modulated by information structure in preceding text. We created three types of two-clause structures in which the interpretation of a critical word in the second clause was dependent on the engagement of pragmatic inference as well as a successful establishment of a referential relation between the target word and an intended antecedent in the preceding text. An enhanced P600 response was elicited by target words when the intended referent was in non-topic position compared to topic position or sub-topic position. Moreover, a reduced N400 was elicited by the target word when the intended referent in the preceding clause was in non-topic position, compared to topic position. These findings suggest that building inferential relations can benefit from information structural prominence of topicality.
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Authors
Lijuan Chen, Xiaodong Xu, Qingrong Chen, Phaedra Royle,