In Gary S. Dell’s article ”A Spreading-Activation Theory of Retrieval in Sentence Production” which was published in Volume 93 of the Psychological Review in 1986, he analyses the production of language which is “the least studied and the least understood” by psycholinguistics. The former research concerning the production of language is not sufficient in Dell’s opinion. Dell’s theory tries to make predictions that can be fitted to models.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Differences and similarities to M. F. Garrett's model
- Gary S. Dell's model
- Types of errors
- Factors that make errors more likely
- Spreading Activation and Sound Errors
- Conclusion
- Reference
Objectives and Key Themes
This work presents Gary S. Dell's spreading-activation theory of retrieval in sentence production, analyzing how speech errors are created and the types of errors that can occur. The main objective is to explain Dell's model and its relationship to M. F. Garrett's model.
- Speech error analysis within the framework of Dell's model.
- Comparison of Dell's and Garrett's models of sentence production.
- Categorization and explanation of different types of speech errors.
- Identification of factors influencing the likelihood of speech errors.
- The role of spreading activation in the generation of sound errors.
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage for Dell's spreading-activation theory, highlighting the existing gap in psycholinguistic understanding of language production. It introduces Dell's model as a development of Garrett's model, focusing on phonological encoding and the use of speech errors ("Freudian slips") as data. The chapter establishes the foundational concept of a hierarchical structure connecting semantic, syntactic, morphological, and phonological representations through interconnected nodes, emphasizing the bidirectional nature of these connections (spread of activation) as a key departure from Garrett's model. This interaction between levels is crucial for understanding how speech errors arise within the framework.
2. Differences and similarities to M. F. Garrett's model: This chapter directly compares and contrasts Dell's model with Garrett's. The key difference lies in the bidirectional connections between representational levels in Dell's model (spread of activation), absent in Garrett's. This interconnectedness eliminates the distinct separation of levels and the classification into open and closed classes. However, both models acknowledge the lexical bias effect—the tendency to produce real words instead of non-words in speech errors. The chapter highlights the interactive nature of Dell's network model and its advancements over Garrett's.
3. Gary S. Dell's model: This chapter delves into the mechanics of Dell's model, using the example sentence "Some swimmers sink" to illustrate how speech errors occur. The model depicts three levels (syntactic, morphological, phonological) with nodes representing word components. Errors arise when an "error node" achieves higher activation than the "target node," often due to contextual effects. The chapter provides examples of different error types, such as phoneme anticipation, shift, deletion, and substitution, showing how these errors manifest within the model's structure through competing activations of nodes at the phonological level. The example of "Sim swimmers sink" (phoneme anticipation) is detailed, highlighting the activation of the /I/ vowel node from both "swim" and "sink."
4. Types of errors: This section categorizes speech errors into contextual and non-contextual errors. Contextual errors stem from activation from higher-level representations, exemplified by phoneme perseveration, exchange, and anticipation. Non-contextual errors arise from nodes outside the intended utterance, illustrated by substitution errors. The chapter thoroughly explains the origins and mechanisms underlying both types of errors within the context of Dell's model, showing how they arise from interactions and activations within the network.
5. Factors that make errors more likely: This section discusses factors increasing the probability of speech errors. Output biases (lexical and semantic) favor the production of meaningful words, while similarity between interacting items and their immediate environments enhances error likelihood. Speaking rate and distance between misordered elements also significantly influence error frequency, highlighting the temporal and spatial dynamics within the model's processes. The chapter integrates these factors into the broader framework of Dell's model, explaining how they modulate node activation and competition.
6. Spreading Activation and Sound Errors: This chapter focuses on output biases, outlining three types: lexical biases (actual words or morphemes), semantic biases (semantically related incorrect words), and the interplay of these biases with the spreading activation process in generating sound errors. The chapter builds upon the previous explanations of node activation and competition, adding the dimension of these biases influencing which nodes are most likely to be selected, either correctly or incorrectly, leading to different types of sound errors.
Keywords
Spreading activation, sentence production, speech errors, psycholinguistics, Garrett's model, phonological encoding, lexical bias, contextual errors, non-contextual errors, output biases, phoneme anticipation, phoneme shift, phoneme deletion, word substitution.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Overview of Gary S. Dell's Spreading-Activation Theory
What is the main focus of this text?
This text provides a comprehensive overview of Gary S. Dell's spreading-activation theory of sentence production. It analyzes how speech errors occur, the types of errors that can arise, and compares Dell's model to M. F. Garrett's model. The text uses speech error analysis to illustrate the theory and its mechanisms.
What are the key themes explored in the text?
Key themes include: analyzing speech errors within the framework of Dell's model; comparing and contrasting Dell's and Garrett's models; categorizing and explaining different types of speech errors (phoneme anticipation, shift, deletion, substitution, etc.); identifying factors influencing the likelihood of speech errors (e.g., speaking rate, similarity between words); and understanding the role of spreading activation in generating sound errors. The text also explores contextual and non-contextual errors and the influence of output biases (lexical and semantic).
How does Dell's model differ from Garrett's model?
The primary difference lies in the bidirectional connections between representational levels in Dell's model (spreading activation), which are absent in Garrett's model. This interconnectedness eliminates the distinct separation of levels found in Garrett's model. However, both models acknowledge the lexical bias effect – the tendency to produce real words instead of non-words in speech errors.
What are the different types of speech errors discussed?
The text categorizes speech errors into contextual and non-contextual errors. Contextual errors result from activation from higher-level representations (e.g., phoneme perseveration, exchange, anticipation). Non-contextual errors arise from nodes outside the intended utterance (e.g., substitution errors). Specific examples like phoneme anticipation, shift, deletion, and substitution are detailed using illustrations within Dell's model.
What factors increase the likelihood of speech errors?
Factors increasing the probability of speech errors include output biases (lexical and semantic), similarity between interacting items and their environments, speaking rate, and the distance between misordered elements. These factors influence node activation and competition within Dell's model.
What is the role of spreading activation in sound errors?
Spreading activation, a core component of Dell's model, plays a crucial role in generating sound errors. The text explains how the interplay of lexical biases (actual words or morphemes), semantic biases (semantically related incorrect words), and spreading activation influences which nodes are selected, leading to various sound errors.
What are the key takeaways from the chapter summaries?
The chapter summaries provide a detailed walkthrough of Dell's model, explaining its mechanisms, comparing it to Garrett's model, categorizing error types, analyzing factors influencing error likelihood, and exploring the role of spreading activation and output biases in generating speech errors. Each chapter builds upon the previous one, providing a comprehensive understanding of the theory.
What are the key words associated with this text?
Key words include: Spreading activation, sentence production, speech errors, psycholinguistics, Garrett's model, phonological encoding, lexical bias, contextual errors, non-contextual errors, output biases, phoneme anticipation, phoneme shift, phoneme deletion, word substitution.
- Quote paper
- Judith Leitermann (Author), 2012, Summary of the presentation of Gary S. Dell’s "Spreading-Activation Theory of Retrieval in Sentence Production", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/338037
