Semantic Similarity Effects in Chinese Reading: Evidence for Semantic Prediction

doi:10.12139/j.1672-0628.2024.04.002

Abstract

Abstract:

This study investigated whether predictive processing during Chinese reading predominantly occurs at the lexical level or semantic level by employing eye-tracking technology. The experiment manipulated target words within sentences to create conditions with either high-predictable or low-predictable words across three levels, with the semantic similarity between high-predictable and low-predictable words decreasing progressively (L1>L2>L3). The results revealed that as the semantic similarity between low-predictable and high-predictable words decreased, the processing time for low-predictable words increased in early eye movement measures. This finding demonstrates a significant semantic similarity effect, highlighting the graded nature of semantic prediction. Additionally, contextual constraints are shown to modulate predictive processing. These results provide support for the “semantic prediction” account.

Key words: lexical prediction, semantic prediction, contextual constraint, Chinese reading, eye-movement

摘要：

采用眼动追踪技术，探讨汉语阅读中预测加工普遍发生在词汇水平还是语义水平。操纵句子中的目标词为高预测词和三种水平的低预测词，高预测词和低预测词之间的语义相似度逐渐降低(L1>L2>L3)。结果发现，在早期眼动指标上，低预测词和高预测词之间的语义相似度越低，读者对低预测词的加工时间越长，即语义相似度效应显著，体现了渐进性的语义预测特征；此外，语境限制性调节预测加工。研究结果支持“语义预测”观点。

关键词: 词汇预测, 语义预测, 语境限制性, 汉语阅读, 眼动

Min CHANG, Kuo ZHANG, Yue SUN, Sha LI, Jingxin WANG. Semantic Similarity Effects in Chinese Reading: Evidence for Semantic Prediction[J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2024, 22(4): 442-449.

常敏, 张阔, 孙悦, 李莎, 王敬欣. 汉语阅读中的语义相似度效应：语义预测的证据[J]. 心理与行为研究, 2024, 22(4): 442-449.

Figures/Tables 5

References 0

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条件	句子
高预测词H	救援队当前面临的困难是如何移动受伤的游客。
低预测词L1	救援队当前面临的问题是如何移动受伤的游客。
低预测词L2	救援队当前面临的挑战是如何移动受伤的游客。
低预测词L3	救援队当前面临的任务是如何移动受伤的游客。

条件	句子
高预测词H	救援队当前面临的困难是如何移动受伤的游客。
低预测词L1	救援队当前面临的问题是如何移动受伤的游客。
低预测词L2	救援队当前面临的挑战是如何移动受伤的游客。
低预测词L3	救援队当前面临的任务是如何移动受伤的游客。

	高预测词(H)	低预测词1(L1)	低预测词2(L2)	低预测词3(L3)
预测性	0.83(0.15)	0.03(0.04)	0.02(0.03)	0.02(0.04)
句子通顺性	5.26(0.50)	5.26(0.44)	5.25(0.45)	5.18(0.40)
词频	3.04(0.67)	2.61(0.85)	2.64(0.84)	2.54(0.77)
首字字频	4.19(0.57)	4.17(0.61)	4.13(0.65)	4.13(0.61)
尾字字频	4.12(0.57)	4.22(0.64)	4.03(0.83)	4.17(0.64)
整词笔画数	16.25(4.44)	16.83(4.29)	16.88(4.83)	15.85(4.85)
首字笔画数	8.00(2.60)	8.34(2.99)	8.78(3.12)	7.71(3.33)
尾字笔画数	8.25(3.02)	8.49(3.18)	8.10(3.17)	8.14(3.40)
语义相似度	1.00(0.00)	0.69(0.11)	0.58(0.11)	0.47(0.11)

	高预测词(H)	低预测词1(L1)	低预测词2(L2)	低预测词3(L3)
预测性	0.83(0.15)	0.03(0.04)	0.02(0.03)	0.02(0.04)
句子通顺性	5.26(0.50)	5.26(0.44)	5.25(0.45)	5.18(0.40)
词频	3.04(0.67)	2.61(0.85)	2.64(0.84)	2.54(0.77)
首字字频	4.19(0.57)	4.17(0.61)	4.13(0.65)	4.13(0.61)
尾字字频	4.12(0.57)	4.22(0.64)	4.03(0.83)	4.17(0.64)
整词笔画数	16.25(4.44)	16.83(4.29)	16.88(4.83)	15.85(4.85)
首字笔画数	8.00(2.60)	8.34(2.99)	8.78(3.12)	7.71(3.33)
尾字笔画数	8.25(3.02)	8.49(3.18)	8.10(3.17)	8.14(3.40)
语义相似度	1.00(0.00)	0.69(0.11)	0.58(0.11)	0.47(0.11)

	高预测词(H)	低预测词1(L1)	低预测词2(L2)	低预测词3(L3)
跳读率(%)	37(1)	31(1)	33(1)	34(1)
首次注视时间(ms)	242(3)	247(3)	245(2)	256(3)
单一注视时间(ms)	240(3)	245(3)	244(3)	255(3)
凝视时间(ms)	258(4)	271(4)	278(4)	282(4)
回视路径阅读时间(ms)	312(8)	330(7)	335(8)	349(9)
总注视时间(ms)	322(6)	345(6)	355(6)	365(7)