Pronominal interpretation and the syntax-discourse interface:: Real-time comprehension and neurological properties

We report on the dynamic implementation and neurological distribution (through the study of Broca's aphasia) of certain properties of pronominal interpretation. Three pronominals - reflexives, logophors and pronouns - are examined within a model of interpretation that capitalizes on the interaction between two levels of representation syntax and discourse - relative to one factor: coargumenthood. Our model hypothesizes that coargumenthood dissociates reflexives from logophors and pronouns by determining the level of representation where the antecedent is identified: presence of coargumenthood between the pronominal and the antecedent allows syntax to determine pronominal-antecedent dependency. Absence of coargumenthood forces the system to search for the antecedent at the level of discourse. The latter is predicted to require more computational resources. Results show that at least for the logophor, antecedent identification increases the amount of computational resources used. The same distinction is revealed in Broca's patients' comprehension thus supporting the view that the processing of these pronominals is only partially dependent on syntactic processing.