https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5086-0365
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ABSTRACT
A central question in neurolinguistics is how the brain computes the meaning of complex expressions from the meanings of the parts. We investigate adjective–noun composition using EEG, focusing on the effects of the intensional and denotational semantics of the modifying adjective. We used NPs from 4 semantic conditions in Bokmål Norwegian: privative modal (e.g. “fake president”), privative temporal (“former president”), non-privative modal (“real president”), and non-privative temporal (“current president”). In 2 non-semantic conditions, the adjective was replaced by either a non-word or a pseudo-word. The composition contrast (semantic vs non-semantic trials) revealed a larger P600 component after the noun in the semantic trials. The effects of intensionality (modal vs temporal adjective) were found in the N400 time frame, while the effects of denotation (privative vs non-privative adjective) were found in a post-N400 window. We discuss some implications of these results for neurocognitive theories of compositional language processing.
KEYWORDS:
Acknowledgements
GB conceived the study idea. IF and GB designed the experiment. IF constructed the stimuli and collected the data. IF and GB analyzed the data, interpreted the data, and wrote the paper.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Notes
1 This distinction is widely accepted, but variously framed and formalised in different theories. For some computationally- or cognitively-oriented proposals and discussions, see Moschovakis (Citation1994), Lambalgen & Hamm (Citation2005), Szymanik (Citation2016), Baggio (Citation2018).