On the use of verb-based implicit causality in sentence comprehension: Evidence from self-paced reading and eye tracking

• Published in: Journal of memory and language 2006-05, Vol.54 (4), p.445-465
• Main Authors: Koornneef, Arnout W., Van Berkum, Jos J.A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Attribution Theory; Biological and medical sciences; Etiology; Experiments; Eye Movements; Eyes & eyesight; Form Classes (Languages); Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Grammar; Immediacy; Implicit causality; Interpersonal verbs; Item Analysis; Language; Language comprehension; Memory; Pacing; Prediction; Predictor Variables; Production and perception of written language; Pronoun resolution; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Reading; Reading Comprehension; Reading Processes; Reading Research; Sentences; Verbs
• ISSN: 0749-596X; 1096-0821
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jml.2005.12.003

In two experiments, we examined the recent claim ( Stewart, Pickering, & Sanford, 2000) that verb-based implicit causality information is used during sentence–final clausal integration only. We did so by looking for mid-sentence reading delays caused by pronouns that are inconsistent with the bias of a preceding implicit causality verb (e.g., “ David praised Linda because he…”). In a self-paced reading task, such pronouns immediately slowed down reading, at the two words immediately following the pronoun. In eye tracking, bias-inconsistent pronouns also immediately perturbed the reading process, as indexed by significant delays in various first pass measures at and shortly after the critical pronoun. Hence, readers can recruit verb-based implicit causality information in the service of comprehension rapidly enough to impact on the interpretation of a pronoun early in the subordinate clause. We take our results to suggest that implicit causality is used proactively, allowing readers to focus on, and perhaps even predict, who or what will be talked about next.