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

2. 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)

3. 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?

4. 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

5. 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”

6. 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?

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

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

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

10. 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

11. 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)

12. 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

13. 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

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

15. 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.

16. 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”?

17. 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.

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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?

22. 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

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

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

25. 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.

26. 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?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

34. 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?

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

36. 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

37. 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.