Electrophysiological Evidence for Sentence Comprehension - Wings

There are two main aims to be achieved in this thesis:
(1) to define electrophysiological correlates of various elements of sentence
comprehension in Croatian and
(2) to define differences in sentence processing in language development, i.e. to find
differences in ERP signature of sentence processing between (a) adults and children with
typical language development (TLD) and, (b) between children with TLD and children
with Specific Language Impairment.
2.1. Evidence for Sentence Comprehension
An attempt to dissociate various elements of syntax processing will be made. These
elements will be defined along the theoretical distinctions formulated in the Role and
Reference Grammar (the distinction between the constituent and operator projection of
the clause). Therefore, since Role and Reference Grammar operates with language
universal notions, the established dissociation will tackle the problem of sentence
processing on a universal, not language specific level, i.e. the results could be used for
predicting the results in other languages.
The dissociation between various elements of syntax processing calls for a
reinterpretation of the syntax-to-semantics interface that makes the core of the
comprehension process.
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