Ambiguity in context
- 1 September 1989
- journal article
- Published by Taylor & Francis in Language and Cognitive Processes
- Vol. 4 (3-4) , SI77-SI103
- https://doi.org/10.1080/01690968908406364
Abstract
We discuss theories of sentence parsing, paying particular attention to claims about how context may affect the resolution of syntactic ambiguities. We defend the garden-path theory, arguing that it accounts for a wide range of data that other theories do not account for. The theory proposed by Crain, Altmann, and Steedman is taken as the most attractive alternative, but we argue that its underlying semantic claims are questionable, and we suggest that the data that have been presented in its support are not inconsistent with the garden-path theory.Keywords
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