Predicate-argument structure as a link between linguistic and nonlinguistic representations.
We present a study wherein a severe Broca's aphasic patient was trained to learn symbols representing both pure transitive and dative predicates--predicates differing in argument structure--in a visually based artificial language (c-ViC). We found a decrease in performance when two symbols, rather than one, were used to depict these "verbs." However, this decrease in performance was more pronounced for symbols representing pure transitive verbs--those that allow only one argument structure--than for symbols representing dative verbs--those that allow two different argument structures. Also, dative "verbs" yielded better performance when they were inserted in more complex, three-argument "sentences" than when they were inserted in two-argument "sentences." The opposite pattern was found for pure transitives. These results are discussed in terms of our claim that argument structure serves as a point of connection between linguistic information and non-linguistic visual information and in terms of the possibility that argument structure entries are shaped by the form in which visual information is parsed.
Canseco-Gonzalez
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E
Department of Psychology, Brandeis University.
Shapiro
L P
LP
Zurif
E B
EB
Baker
E
E
D000368:Aged; D001039:Aphasia, Broca / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D001925:Brain Damage, Chronic / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D003143:Communication Devices for People with Disabilities; D003210:Concept Formation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual; D012660:Semantics