Context-dependent information processing: Towards an expectation-based parsing model of information structure

Abstract

The ways language encodes information depend on when and how the preceding linguistic and non-linguistic context has established it in the participants’ working memory. Information-Structure categories such as Focus and Topic are used to signal that the conveyed information is, respectively, the contribution of the message to the addressee’s knowledge or simply something meant to link the message to the context. Information introduced within a context (“Given”) is expected to be encoded as a Topic, while “New” information is more likely to appear in Focus. The results of a dedicated EEG experiment will show that violation of such expectations causes supplementary processing costs, revealed by rhythmic changes in different frequency bands.