• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.25 no.11
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• pp.27-40
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• 2020

In this paper, we investigate the correlation between the amount of English sentences that Korean English learners (L2ers) are exposed to and their sentence processing patterns by examining what Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) language models (LMs) can learn about implicit syntactic relationship: that is, the filler-gap dependency. The filler-gap dependency refers to a relationship between a (wh-)filler, which is a wh-phrase like 'what' or 'who' overtly in clause-peripheral position, and its gap in clause-internal position, which is an invisible, empty syntactic position to be filled by the (wh-)filler for proper interpretation. Here to implement L2ers' English learning, we build LSTM LMs that in turn learn a subset of the known restrictions on the filler-gap dependency from English sentences in the L2 corpus that L2ers can potentially encounter in their English learning. Examining LSTM LMs' behaviors on controlled sentences designed with the filler-gap dependency, we show the characteristics of L2ers' sentence processing using the information-theoretic metric of surprisal that quantifies violations of the filler-gap dependency or wh-licensing interaction effects. Furthermore, comparing L2ers' LMs with native speakers' LM in light of processing the filler-gap dependency, we not only note that in their sentence processing both L2ers' LM and native speakers' LM can track abstract syntactic structures involved in the filler-gap dependency, but also show using linear mixed-effects regression models that there exist significant differences between them in processing such a dependency.

• Language and Information
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.59-79
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• 2014

This paper aims at exploring the processing mechanism of filler-gap dependency resolution and feature checking in Korean wh-constructions. Based on their findings on Japanese sentence processing, Aoshima et al. (2004) have argued that the parser posits a gap in the embedded clause in head-final languages, unlike in head-initial languages, where the parser posits a gap in the matrix clause. In order to verify their findings in the Korean context, and to further explore the mechanisms involved in processing Korean wh-constructions, the present study replicated the study done by Aoshima et al., with some modifications of problematic areas in their original design. Sixty-four Korean native speakers were presented Korean sentences containing a wh-phrase in four conditions, with word order and complementizer type as the two main factors. The participants read sentences segment-by-segment, and the reading times at each segment were measured. The reading time analysis showed that there was no such slowdown at the embedded verb in the scrambled conditions as observed in Aoshima et al. Instead, there was a clear indication of the wh-feature checking process in terms of a major slowdown at the relevant region.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Language and Information Conference
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• 2007.11a
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• pp.234-240
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• 2007

This paper argues that various kinds of displaced structures in English should be licensed by a more explicitly formulated type of rule schema in order to deal with what is called weak connectivity in English. This paper claims that the filler and the gap site cannot maintain the total identity of features but a partial overlap since the two positions need to obey the structural forces that come from occupying respective positions. One such case is the missing object construction where the subject fillers and the object gaps are to observe requirements that are imposed on the respective positions. Others include passive constructions and topicalized structures. In this paper, it is argued that the feature discrepancy comes from the different syntactic positions in which the fillers are assumed to be located before and after displacement. In order to capture this type of mismatch, syntactically relevant features are handled separately from the semantically motivated features in order to deal with the syntactically imposed requirements.

• Korean Journal of Cognitive Science
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.507-533
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• 2009

This paper examines the time course and processing patterns of filler-gap dependencies in Korean relative clauses, using an eyetracking method. Participants listened to a short story while viewing four pictures of entities mentioned in the story. Each story is followed by an auditorily presented question involving a relative clause (subject relative or dative relative). Participants' eye movements in response to the question were recorded. Results showed that the proportion of looks to the picture corresponding to a filler noun significantly increased at the relative verb affixed with a relativizer, and was largest at the filler where the fixation duration on the filler picture significantly increased. These results suggest that online resolution of the filler-gap dependency only starts at the relative verb marked with a relativiser and is finally completed at the filler position. Accordingly, they partly support the filler-driven parsing strategy for Korean, as for head-initial languages. In addition, the different patterns of eye movements between subject relatives and dative relatives indicate the role of case markers in parsing Korean sentences.

• Language and Information
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.1-24
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• 2016

Korean is well-known for its topic-prominent properties. In this paper, we look into several subtypes of topic constructions whose grammatical complexities have received much attention in generative grammar. From a semantic/pragmatic view, topics in Korean can be classified into three different types: aboutness, contrastive, and scene-setting. Meanwhile, syntax can classify topic constructions into two types, depending on whether or not the comment clause following topic has a syntactic gap linked to the topic. In this paper, we review some key properties of these topic constructions in Korean, and suggest that each type is licensed by tight interactions between syntactic and semantic constraints. In particular, the paper tries to offer a Construction Grammar analysis where each grammatical component is interacting in non-modular ways and in which the multiple inheritance network of constructions plays an important role in capturing cross-cutting generalizations of the topic constructions.