Alternative Sets In Language Processing: How Focus Alternatives Are Represented In The Mind (palgrave Studies In Pragmatics, Language And Cognition)
by Nicole Gotzner /
2017 / English / PDF
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This book presents a novel experimental approach to investigating
the mental representation of linguistic alternatives. Combining
theoretical and psycholinguistic questions concerning the nature of
alternative sets, it sheds new light on the theory of focus and the
cognitive mechanisms underlying the processing of alternatives. In
a series of language comprehension experiments, the author shows
that intonational focus and focus particles such as ‘only’ shape
the representation of alternatives in a listener’s mind in a
fundamental way. This book is relevant to researchers interested in
semantics, pragmatics, language processing and memory.
This book presents a novel experimental approach to investigating
the mental representation of linguistic alternatives. Combining
theoretical and psycholinguistic questions concerning the nature of
alternative sets, it sheds new light on the theory of focus and the
cognitive mechanisms underlying the processing of alternatives. In
a series of language comprehension experiments, the author shows
that intonational focus and focus particles such as ‘only’ shape
the representation of alternatives in a listener’s mind in a
fundamental way. This book is relevant to researchers interested in
semantics, pragmatics, language processing and memory.
