Kimball's model Flashcards
what did Kimball 1973 argue
that human sentence parsing menchanism was subject to a number of constraints that reflect- parser’s limited processing capacity and tendency to choose interpretations that minimise processing load.
explain a bit about Kimball’s model
1st model = basic, introduced key phenomena, collection of key things that we do when we process sentences in real time, we have limited memory capacity, limited processes so go with the interpretation that requires the least work.
discuss the top down principle
parser builds structure starting at subject node and uses phrase structure rules to predict meaning, backtrack if the predictions are wrong.
the top down principle
looks one / two words ahead, uses grammatical knowledge to predict the structure and go with it until found to be wrong- efficient way of parsing.
discuss the principle of right association
parser attaches words to the lowest possible node in the phrase mark that has been constructed so far.
why does it attach to the lowest possible node?
follows RA, attachment that requires you to remember least about the sentence, minimises how much remember so attach to far right.
what do later models argue about RA?
not what’s going on, this principle explains why you go with one meaning over another but sometime makes associations which don’t make sense.
what is the principle of two sentences?
parser is restricted to analysing nodes immediately dominated by 2 sentence nodes at a time. explains difficulties with multiple- embedded sentences.
explain this further principle of two sentences
sentences that a hard, embedded sentences, according to Kimball required two sentences in the memory while we process the outermost node.
have to hold this in the memory while we remember the first part, can’t do 2 sentences at once.
what is the exception to principle of two sentences
right branching paraphrases of multiply centre embedded sentences- not a problem although contain 3 nodes, they do not require to stay open.
explain the principle of closure and fixed structure
parser attempts to close phrasal nodes as soon as poss- resistant to re analysing them. explains the difficulty of garden path sentences. trying to do things in real time.
explain principles of processing
idea that when finished processing phrase, goes out of Wm and process else where for meaning which is why its hard. attempts to say what the parser is doing, quick and efficiently and then loses it.
evaluation of Kimball’s model- 6 points
good job at explaining no of properties of sentence processing mechanism
not very simple model given that principles reflect limited capacity of WM
early model- advance in technology
comes up with different exps for each phenomena
there are exceptions to the rules but because it is a machine should always obey its principles
exceptions to the right associations
structurally ambiguous sentences where RA predicts wrong interpretation. English speakers tend to make the first interpretation in eg sentence but RA predicts second, = doesn’t fit the model
