What does this mean? “You've got a green light” Discourse What does this mean? “You've got a green light”

Discourse What does this mean? “You've got a green light” You own a green light The traffic light is green You have permission to proceed Your light is green (not red)

Discourse What does this mean? “You've got a green light” You own a green light The traffic light is green You have permission to proceed Your light is green (not red) How do you know the meaning?

Discourse What does this mean? “You've got a green light” You own a green light The traffic light is green You have permission to proceed Your light is green (not red) How do you know the meaning? Discourse: context of speech, topic, what was said before

Discourse Two kinds of information guides meaning World knowledge (macrostructure) existence of traffic lights, meaning of green light Knowledge of metaphorical use of “green light”

Discourse Two kinds of information guides meaning Situational knowldege (microstructure) Are you waiting at a light? Are you getting the information from your boss? Are you searching through colored lights at Home Depot? What is the conversation about?

Discourse Understanding is based on the discourse “He saw it there” is incomprehensible alone Who is he, what is it, where is there?

Discourse Different structures, words, styles used in different contexts Different people have different experiences which affect their language processing

Discourse Do hockey players, hockey fans, and hockey illiterates process language differently?

Discourse Do hockey players, hockey fans, and hockey illiterates process language differently? People saw sentences that were hockey related or not Someone rang the doorbell The goalie blocked the shot

Discourse Do hockey players, hockey fans, and hockey illiterates process language differently? People saw sentences that were hockey related or not Someone rang the doorbell The goalie blocked the shot Shown pictures that matched sentence or not Had to determine if it matched or not (RT)

Discourse Everyone was faster at recognizing picture of finger on doorbell after sentence about ringing doorbell Everyone was slower when the sentence and the picture didn't match

Discourse Everyone was faster at recognizing picture of finger on doorbell after sentence about ringing doorbell Everyone was slower when the sentence and the picture didn't match Hockey people were fast at matching hockey sentences and corresponding pictures Hockey illiterates were not faster

Discourse fMRIs of brains showed activation in motor areas for hockey people No activation for hockey illiterates

Discourse Anaphoric reference Relating someone or something in different sentences Bob wanted to lend his friend some money. He was broke and really needed it.

Discourse Anaphoric reference Relating someone or something in different sentences Bob wanted to lend his friend some money. He was broke and really needed it. Who is “he”?

Discourse Anaphoric reference Relating someone or something in different sentences Bob wanted to lend his friend some money. He was broke and really needed it. Who is “he”? Bob wanted to lend his friend some money, but he was broke and couldn't afford to.

Discourse Bob jumped across the ravine and he fell into the river. Bob jumped across the ravine and he found some money. First is more coherent

Discourse Recency affects anaphora Three sentences read in different orders: A small window illuminated the room. The floors were covered with strands of thread. A black chair was pushed against the wall The 3 sentences were followed by: 4) The chair appeared to be an antique

Discourse Recency affects anaphora Three sentences read in different orders: A small window illuminated the room. The floors were covered with strands of thread. A black chair was pushed against the wall The 3 sentences were followed by: 4) The chair appeared to be an antique Reading times were faster if #3 immediately preceeded #4

Discourse We're going there in the summer because Hawaii is nice then. Jean has allergies that she got from her mom. What is the difference in the direction of the reference?

Discourse We're going there in the summer because Hawaii is nice then. Jean has allergies that she got from her mom. What is the difference in the direction of the reference? Anaphoric have prior reference Cataphoric has subsequent reference

Discourse Bridging inference (no direct antecedent) We unloaded the picnic basket and the beer was warm

Discourse Bridging inference (no direct antecedent) We unloaded the picnic basket and the beer was warm My son's engaged. Do you like her?

Discourse Bridging inference (no direct antecedent) We unloaded the picnic basket and the beer was warm My son's engaged. Do you like her? Is he with his family tonight? It's Christmas eve.

Discourse Bridging inference (no direct antecedent) We unloaded the picnic basket and the beer was warm My son's engaged. Do you like her? Is he with his family tonight? It's Christmas eve.\ Why would computers have a hard time bridging?

Discourse Other inferences requiring knowledge of world John dropped the wine glass on the carpet John dropped the wine glass on the tile

What is inferred by: Bob ordered shrimp at the restaurant. Discourse What is inferred by: Bob ordered shrimp at the restaurant.

Discourse What is inferred by: Bob ordered shrimp at the restaurant. Menu, waiter, other customers, sitting at table, probably not alone.

The bride walked down the aisle. Discourse The bride walked down the aisle.

The bride walked down the aisle. What color is her dress? Discourse The bride walked down the aisle. What color is her dress?

Discourse The bride walked down the aisle. What color is her dress? Would this be true in another culture?

Discourse A fight broke out during the football game. Who was fighting players or fans?

Discourse A fight broke out during the football game. Who was fighting players or fans? What if it were a game in England compared to the US?

All conversations use given and new information Discourse All conversations use given and new information

Discourse All conversations use given and new information Which is give and which is new? A man is at the door The man is at the door

Discourse All conversations use given and new information Which is give and which is new? A man is at the door The man is at the door A man came in the door (new). The man (given) had a gun.