Anticipation plays a role in language comprehension. In this article, we explore the extent to which verb sense influences expectations about upcoming structure. We focus on change of state verbs like shatter, which have different senses that are expressed in either transitive or intransitive structures, depending on the sense that is used. In two experiments we influence the interpretation of verb sense by manipulating the thematic fit of the grammatical subject as cause or affected entity for the verb, and test whether readers' expectations for a transitive or intransitive structure change as a result. This sense-biasing context influenced reading times in the postverbal regions. Reading times for transitive sentences were faster following good-cause than good-theme subjects, but the opposite pattern was found for intransitive sentences. We conclude that readers use sense-contingent subcategorization preferences during on-line comprehension.

According to Cognitive Interference Theory, evaluation anxiety leads to increased negative off-task self-dialogue which then results in diminished cognitive performance. Given that negative off-task self-dialogue is primarily verbal, the phonological loop and central executive components of the working memory system should be most affected by evaluation anxiety. Eighty-eight participants were randomly assigned to receive evaluation anxiety inducing instructions or supportive instructions prior to administration of three tests (Digit Span, Visual Memory Span, and StroopColour-Word) that measured the phonological loop, visuospatial sketchpad, and central executive components of working memory. Measures of evaluation anxiety and negative off-task self-dialogue were obtained during and after testing. Results showed that participants receiving anxiety inducing instructions reported significantly more evaluation anxiety and off-task self-dialogue. They also had significantly lower performance on the Digit Span Test and the StroopColour-Word Test. Negative off-task self-dialogue also mediated the relationship between evaluation anxiety and performance on the Digit Span Test.

This survey shows that readers often aredissatisfied utith the infmmational value of quotes and background used in news stories. The authors suggest that readers' criticism of structure orform can help journalists to improve story structure.

No abstract

No abstract