Linguistic Illusions Guide Eye Movement

Evidence From Doubling

Bibliographic Data

ID11052664
AuthorsQatherine Andan (0000-0002-1652-666X, Northeastern University), Peter Bex, Peter J Bex (0000-0001-7561-7695, Northeastern University), Iris Berent (0000-0002-6424-7702, Northeastern University, corresponding author)
Year2023
Volume52
Issue6
Pages2811-2833
Publication date2023-12-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Psycholinguistic Research (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0090-6905 • E-ISSN: 1573-6555
PublisherSpringer Science and Business Media LLC (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1007/s10936-023-10023-y
PMID37824032
OpenAlexW4387564224
LanguageEN
References cited22

Across languages, certain phonological patterns are preferred to others (e.g., blog > lbog ). But whether such preferences arise from abstract linguistic constraints or sensorimotor pressures is controversial. We address this debate by examining the constraints on doubling (e.g., slaflaf , generally, XX). Doubling demonstrably elicits conflicting responses (aversion or preference), depending on the linguistic level of analysis (phonology vs. morphology). Since the stimulus remains unchanged, the shifting responses imply abstract constraints. Here, we ask whether these constraints apply online, in eye movements. Experiment 1 shows that, in bare phonological forms, doubling is dispreferred, and correspondingly it elicits shorter fixations. Remarkably, when doubling signals morphological plurality, the aversion shifts into preference, in Experiment 2. Our results demonstrate for the first time that the constraints on doubling apply online. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that phonological knowledge arises, in part, from an abstract linguistic source

Cognition · Cognitive psychology · Eye movement · Illusion · Linguistics · Optimality theory · Phonology · Preference · Psycholinguistics · Stimulus (psychology) · Categorization, perception, and language · Language, Metaphor, and Cognition · Mathematics · Neurobiology of Language and Bilingualism · Neuroscience · Philosophy · Psychology

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