Semantic, Syntactic, and Spatial Anticipation in Reading

Abstract

PROPOSES ALTERNATIVE STRATEGIES that a reader might use to anticipate semantic, syntactic, and spatial features of upcoming text; and explains how such anticipation could enhance the reading process. Critically reviews studies on semantic and syntactic ambiguity, eye movements, oral reading errors, and other related areas for their implications concerning anticipatory behavior. The studies reviewed reveal that readers are sensitive to, and use, semantic and syntactic context to predict the classes of upcoming words; but that readers do not usually use semantic and syntactic context to predict the precise identity of successive words. It is concluded that readers can use syntactic and peripheral visual cues in anticipating successive fixation locations in order to maximize information gain. Current theories of reading are evaluated with respect to their incorporation of anticipatory behavior. The class of interactive models which conceive simultaneous bottom-up and top-down processing are most consistent with the evidence available on anticipation. The Selective Analysis model, one interactive variant, appears most promising as an appropriate explanation of the reading process.

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