Misinterpretations of garden-path sentences: Implications for models of sentence processing and reanalysis

Theories of sentence sentence comprehension have addressed both initial par sing processes and mechanisms responsible for reanalysis. Three experiments are summarized that were designed to investigate the reanalysis and interp retation of relatively difficult garden-path sentences (e.g., While Anna dr essed the baby spit up on the bed). After reading such sentences, participa nts correctly believed that the baby spit Icp on the bed; however, they oft en confidently, yet incorrectly, believed that Anna dressed the baby. These results demonstrate that garden-path reanalysis is not an all-or-nothing p rocess and that thematic roles initially assigned for the subordinate claus e verb are not consistently revised. The implications of the partial reanal ysis phenomenon Sor Fodor and Inoue's (1998) model of reanalysis and senten ce processing are discussed. In addition, we discuss the possibility that l anguage processing often creates "good enough" structures rather than ideal structures.