Exploratory Research On Temporal Order Information In Chinese Serial-verb Sentences

Temporal order information was an important index of constructing situation model. Descriptions according to time order of events facilitated comprehension while contrary to chronological order made it more difficult. In researches adopting recognition paradigm, the SOA (stimulus onset asynchrony) between pre-information and target stimulus affected language comprehension. Previous research demonstrated that within 3000ms, the longer the SOA was, the better the sentence processed, while using Chinese sentences as materials found that difference was only existed within 1000ms. There were three types of processes operating on situation model: the construction, updating, and retrieval of situation models. Readers constructed a current model of situation described by a sentence or clause, as continued reading, each sentence yielded a new current model. Information from all sentences read was integrated into a single model, which was therefore called the integrated model. Also there was expect effect——that is, expecting description was according to events chronological order. This study used Chinese serial-verb sentences as stimulus and university students as subjects and got findings as follows:(1) Temporal order information facilitated sentence comprehension. The representation of text was consistent with events chronological order;(2) Different SOA affected temporal order information processing in Chinese serial-verb sentences. 300ms SOA was not enough for sentence comprehension; 600ms was the basic time for semantic comprehension; while 1000ms made the elaborate processing possible. Under all conditions in this research time order did not increasing cognition load; but facilitated sentence comprehension.(3) Situation model based on temporal order information began with an expecting current model, after updating and then integrated into a single one.