The logic of syntactic priming and acceptability judgments. (10th November 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gaston, Phoebe; Huang, Nick; Phillips, Colin
• Is Part Of: Behavioral and brain sciences. Volume 40(2017)
• Publication Date: 2017-11-10
• Subjects: Psychophysiology -- Periodicals; Psychology -- Periodicals; Human behavior -- Periodicals; Animal behavior -- Periodicals; Brain -- Periodicals; 616.89142
• DOI: 10.1017/S0140525X17000371
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0140-525X

Abstract

Abstract: A critical flaw in Branigan & Pickering's (B&P's) advocacy of structural priming is the absence of a theory of priming. This undermines their claims about the value of priming as a methodology. In contrast, acceptability judgments enable clearer inferences about structure. It is important to engage thoroughly with the logic behind different structural diagnostics.