The relationship between sentence comprehension and lexical-semantic retuning

A single encounter with an ambiguous word (e.g. bark, ball) in the context of a less-frequent meaning “Sally worried about how crowded ball would be.”) can shift later interpretation toward same subordinate meaning. This lexical-semantic retuning functions to improve future comprehension words. The present paper investigates relationship between this form learning and specific processes that occur during sentence comprehension. One possibility is occurs immediately upon hearing word, initial activation selection, so priming should be strongest when disambiguating provided before (prior disambiguation). Alternatively, may relate degree reinterpretation needed, which predict maximal initially misunderstood because critical given after (subsequent disambiguation, e.g. too crowded.”). In four experiments, adults listened prior subsequent disambiguation sentences, were tested on their interpretations primed unprimed results showed for both types. Importantly, however, emergence sentences was sensitive prime conditions: task could potentially performed without needing re-analyse ambiguity, then no significant observed. consistent ‘good enough’ view language processing states representations remain as (im)precise mandated by situation, operates output good-enough interpretation. More generally, our findings suggest driven participants’ final meanings encounter, regardless or misinterpretation.