Experience and grammatical agreement: statistical learning shapes number agreement production.

Cognition
Todd R HaskellMaryellen C Macdonald

Abstract

A robust result in research on the production of grammatical agreement is that speakers are more likely to produce an erroneous verb with phrases such as the key to the cabinets, with a singular noun followed by a plural one, than with phrases such as the keys to the cabinet, where a plural noun is followed by a singular. These asymmetries are thought to reflect core language production processes. Previous accounts have attributed error patterns to a syntactic number feature present on plurals but not singulars. An alternative approach is presented in which a process similar to structural priming contributes to the error asymmetry via speakers' past experiences with related agreement constructions. A corpus analysis and two agreement production studies test this account. The results suggest that agreement production is shaped by statistical learning from past language experience. Implications for accounts of agreement are discussed.

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Citations

Sep 17, 2013·Journal of Memory and Language·Jelena Mirković, Maryellen C Macdonald
Oct 12, 2015·Acta Psychologica·Alma VeenstraDaniel J Acheson
Apr 8, 2014·Journal of Psycholinguistic Research·Maya DankKathryn Bock
Aug 8, 2014·Frontiers in Psychology·Alma VeenstraAntje S Meyer
Jan 1, 2013·Language Learning and Development : the Official Journal of the Society for Language Development·Mark S Seidenberg
Aug 12, 2014·Language and Speech·Christina S KimMichael K Tanenhaus
Mar 29, 2018·The Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology : QJEP·Aazam Feiz, Wind Cowles
Jan 19, 2018·The Behavioral and Brain Sciences·Holly P Branigan, Martin J Pickering
Jan 27, 2019·Journal of Psycholinguistic Research·Taiping Deng, Baoguo Chen
May 5, 2018·Frontiers in Psychology·Heidi LorimorErica L Middleton
Jun 1, 2021·Cortex; a Journal Devoted to the Study of the Nervous System and Behavior·R Muralikrishnan, Ali Idrissi

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