TY - CHAP
T1 - The Syntax-Semantics Interface
T2 - On-Line Composition Of Sentence Meaning
AU - Pylkkänen, Liina
AU - McElree, Brian
PY - 2006
Y1 - 2006
N2 - This chapter presents a discussion on the syntax-semantics interface. The task of a theory of semantic interpretation is to characterize how elements in a syntactic string semantically relate to one another. Clearly, this depends on how one conceptualizes the meaning of the elementary building blocks-that is, the terminal nodes of a syntactic tree. Interpreting an expression typically requires integrating it into an evolving discourse model. Frequently, this requires resolving ambiguities at conceptually distinct levels, fixing reference, and drawing inferences to align local and global aspects of the discourse. To fully accomplish this task, it is uncontroversial that, in addition to lexical and syntactic constraints, comprehenders must draw upon pragmatic knowledge. The importance of high-level constraints has been illustrated by the finding that comprehenders sometimes adopt a pragmatically plausible interpretation even if it is incongruent with lexical and syntactic constraints.
AB - This chapter presents a discussion on the syntax-semantics interface. The task of a theory of semantic interpretation is to characterize how elements in a syntactic string semantically relate to one another. Clearly, this depends on how one conceptualizes the meaning of the elementary building blocks-that is, the terminal nodes of a syntactic tree. Interpreting an expression typically requires integrating it into an evolving discourse model. Frequently, this requires resolving ambiguities at conceptually distinct levels, fixing reference, and drawing inferences to align local and global aspects of the discourse. To fully accomplish this task, it is uncontroversial that, in addition to lexical and syntactic constraints, comprehenders must draw upon pragmatic knowledge. The importance of high-level constraints has been illustrated by the finding that comprehenders sometimes adopt a pragmatically plausible interpretation even if it is incongruent with lexical and syntactic constraints.
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U2 - 10.1016/B978-012369374-7/50015-8
DO - 10.1016/B978-012369374-7/50015-8
M3 - Chapter
AN - SCOPUS:84882478027
SN - 9780123693747
SP - 539
EP - 579
BT - Handbook of Psycholinguistics
PB - Elsevier Ltd
ER -