Incremental parsing and ambiguous sentences - each incoming materials are attached immediately - a single analysis is pursed - given the uncertainty, how do we decide which structure to choose? Minimal attachment strategy Late closure strategy

The Temporary ambiguity

Theteacher Temporary ambiguity

Theteachersent Temporary ambiguity

Theteachersentthe Temporary ambiguity

Theteachersenttheflowers Temporary ambiguity

Theteachersentthewas pleasedflowers Temporary ambiguity

S NP DetN The teachersent All right, I have a verb. That’s easy. Let’s attach that under the main VP. Temporary ambiguity

S NP DetN VP The teachersent V Good. Then, I have to wait for some nouns after the verb. Come on, show me an NP now. Temporary ambiguity

S NP DetN VP NP DetN The teacherthe flowerssent V A-ha. You know, I’m good. So now what, maybe the recipient of the flowers? That would be a PP (yeah, to NP). Temporary ambiguity

S NP DetN VP NP DetN The teacherthe flowerssent V was pleased What????? That’s not possible. I already have a VP. How can I have another VP here? Somebody help me! Temporary ambiguity

S NP DetN The teachersent Don’t panic. Let’s go back. Maybe I did something wrong right here. Temporary ambiguity

S NPVP NPS DetNCompS NPVP NP DetN The teacher i who i eiei wasthe flowerswas pleasedsent Because I remember that there is another possibility. Suppose I have this structure. Then, Temporary ambiguity

S NPVP NPS DetNCompS NPVP NP DetN The teacher i the flowerswas pleasedsent who was I know that who was can be dropped without causing any meaning difference. Let’s see what happens. Temporary ambiguity

S NPVP NP DetN VP NP DetN The teacherthe flowerswas pleasedsent Now, it looks good. But wait, who would have thought of this structure in the first place? I wouldn’t! Temporary ambiguity

Theteachergiventhewas pleasedflowers Unambiguous sentence

S NPVP NPS DetNCompS NPVP NP DetN The teacher i who i eiei wasthe flowerswas pleasedgiven From the outset, it is clear that this is the only possible structure. Unambiguous sentence

S NPVP NPS DetNCompS NPVP NP DetN The teacher i the flowerswas pleasedgiven who was Again, who was can be dropped without causing any meaning difference. Unambiguous sentence

S NPVP NP DetN VP NP DetN The teacherthe flowerswas pleasedgiven The difference is that “given” is not ambiguous. Unambiguous sentence

S NPVP DetNVNP NDet The cop saw the spy So far so good! Global ambiguity

S NPVP DetNVNP NDet The cop saw the spy PP NPP with the binoculars Global ambiguity Two possible attachment sites -> how do I decide?

S NPVP DetNVNP NDet The cop saw the spy PP NPP with the binoculars Global ambiguity VP attachment  Minimal attachment strategy

S NPVP DetN V NP NDet The cop saw the spy NPPP NPP with the binoculars Global ambiguity NP attachment  more syntactic nodes

last night AdvP Global ambiguity Again two possible attachment sites  which one do I like better? S NPVP DetNVS N The reporter said the plane NP crashed VP V

Global ambiguity Late closure strategy  attach the incoming materials under the node currently being built S NPVP DetNVS N The reporter said the plane NPVP crashed V last night AdvP

last night AdvP Global ambiguity The attachment to the higher VP is not preferred S NPVP DetNVS N The reporter said the plane NP crashed VP V

While

Mary

WhileMarywas mending

WhileMarywas mendingthe sock

WhileMarywas mendingthe sockfell

WhileMarywas mendingthe sockfelloff

WhileMarywas mendingthe sockfelloffher lap.

Kensatsukan-ga prosecutor-nom Japanes e

Kensatsukan-ga prosecutor-nom kousakuin-o operative-acc Japanes e

Kensatsukan-ga prosecutor-nom kousakuin-o operative-acc goumonshita tortured Japanes e

Kensatsukan-ga prosecutor-nom kousakuin-o operative-acc goumonshita tortured jaajarisuto-o journalist-acc Japanes e

Kensatsukan-ga prosecutor-nom kousakuin-o operative-acc goumonshita tortured jaajarisuto-o journalist-acc Kisoshita indicted The prosecutor indicted the journalist who tortured the operative. Japanes e

S NPVP NPV operative tortured Yeah, this should be it. prosecutor Japanes e

S NPVP RC operative tortured Although this is possible, it looks much more complicated… prosecutor S N NPVP NPV eiei Japanes e

S NPVP NPV operative torturedprosecutor Japanes e journalist Oops, my previous analysis should be revised to …

S NPVP RC V operative tortured this one, the more complicated one. Otherwise, “journalist” has no place to attach itself to. prosecutor S N NPVP NPV eiei journalist i indicted Japanes e