Projecting Grammatical Features in Nominals: Cognitive Processing Theory & Computational Implementation

The cognitive processing theory and computational implementation of a linguistic theory of the representation and projection of grammatical features in nominals is described. The processing of nominals is part of a larger model of language comprehension implemented in the ACT-R cognitive architecture. The model combines a serial, pseudo-deterministic processing mechanism for building linguistic representations—implemented within ACT-R’s production system—with a parallel, activation and selection mechanism for choosing between alternatives—implemented as an interaction between ACT-R’s procedural (production) and declarative memory (DM) systems.