A Model for Continuous Language Behaviour

Abstract

The errors made in reading passages of statistical approximations were analysed. They fell into categories of omissions, substitutions and errors showing the influence of preceding words and the influence of subsequent words (including errors of transposition). A relationship is shown between errors of transposition and omissions in such a way as to indicate that the material in the eye-voice span was subject to decay in a way similar to that described in some theories of immediate memory. Many of the errors due to effects of preceding words and certain of the substitutions and omissions are shown to be consistent with the transformational model for grammar due to Chomsky.

Since it can be shown mathematically and linguistically that natural language sequences cannot be treated fully by information theory, the concept of ‘thought units' is developed to explain functionally language behaviour which may be described statistically by information theory. These thought units are then linked with the ‘kernel strings' which are the core of Chomsky's grammar. Finally some suggestions are put forward relating this structure to problems of semantics, with particular reference to comprehension in reading.

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