Linguistic Structure in Language Processing

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The papers in this volume exemplify the state of experimental psycholinguistics in the mid to late 1980s. The field has significantly advanced since the earlier work of the 1950s and 1960s, emerging with renewed strength after a challenging period in the 1970s. Theoretical issues are now more sharply defined and integrated with concepts from other domains, such as "modularity." Experimental techniques have also become more sophisticated, influenced by psychologists outside the field and advancements in technology, like eye-trackers. The selected papers provide a coherent overview of existing techniques and issues, organized similarly to an introductory linguistics course, starting with sound and progressing to meaning. The first paper by Rebecca Treiman discusses syllable structure, while the last by Alan Garnham focuses on the interpretation of pronouns. In between, the volume covers morphemes, lexical structures, and syntax. While the cross-section represented is necessarily incomplete, as it focuses solely on experimental work related to adult language comprehension and production, it intentionally excludes studies on language acquisition, whether first or second.