Book announced at https://linguistlist.org/issues/34.2127

EDITOR: Jon Sprouse
TITLE: The Oxford Handbook of Experimental Syntax
PUBLISHER: Oxford University Press
YEAR: 2023

REVIEWER: Alexander Holmberg

SUMMARY

This book, “The Oxford Handbook of Experimental Syntax,” is edited by Jon Sprouse. It provides an overview of experimental syntax from different perspectives, with chapters being written by different researchers and authors. The book contains four parts, which include 17 content chapters, an annotated bibliography at the end of each part, and an 18th chapter, which acts as a reflection on the future of the field from the various contributors to the book.

Part 1 of the book contains four chapters, which revolve around judgment methods in Syntactic Theory.

The first chapter, “Acceptability Judgements,” by Jon Sprouse, explores the reliability and validity of informally collected judgments in building syntactic theories. The chapter revolves around concerns such as small sample sizes, lexical factors, and theoretical biases impacting data quality. The chapter also discusses the challenge of validation of cognitive properties like acceptability. The chapter delves into formal judgment experiments, examining the nuances of various tasks (rating, categorization, selection) and their optimization. It emphasizes the role of experimental design in isolating factors influencing acceptability judgments and highlights the value of formal experiments in testing predictions beyond acceptability. The chapter concludes that acceptability judgments, central to generative syntactic theory, remain crucial, with formal experimental methods offering precision and the potential for exploring theoretical questions. The true potential of these methods is deemed to be just the beginning, challenging upcoming generations of syntacticians to advance the frontiers of syntactic theory.

Chapter 2, "Acceptability Judgments of Binding and Coreference (Methodological considerations)," by Elsi Kaiser and Jeffrey Runner, navigates methodological intricacies in collecting acceptability judgments for binding and coreference, central to syntactic theory. It differentiates these judgments from general grammaticality assessments and introduces a significant experiment showcasing non-syntacticians' reliability in providing judgments. The chapter explores diverse methods for judgment elicitation, from binary questions to Magnitude Estimation, and details techniques for indicating coreference relations. It introduces scene verification and picture selection, utilizing visual context to assess specific readings and preferences, offering complementary insights. The chapter concludes by outlining future directions, including cross-linguistic inquiries and addressing underexplored phenomena, enriching our understanding of coreference through experimental research.

Chapter 3, "(Quantifier) Scope Judgments," by Kriszta Eszter Szendroi, investigates quantifier scope judgments, focusing on sentences with quantifiers and operators that create scope reading ambiguities. The chapter debates whether these ambiguities should be represented in both syntax and semantics. It explores various aspects, including quantifier scope interactions, challenges in determining semantic ambiguity, and the role of prosody in disambiguation. The chapter reviews psycholinguistic evidence, theoretical considerations, and experiments on adults and children, revealing an overt (surface) scope preference. It introduces the Parser Hypothesis, suggesting intrinsic preferences for overt scope in both children and adults. The Incremental Verification Task supports an early parsing bias for overt scope in adults, prompting considerations of task-specific effects and reproducibility. Extra-linguistic factors, such as verification procedures and the Semantic Subset Principle, are discussed, shedding light on the cognitive processes involved in language comprehension. The chapter concludes by emphasizing the need for future research, addressing methodological challenges, and considering linguistic and extra-linguistic factors for a comprehensive understanding of scope ambiguities in psycholinguistics and language acquisition.

Chapter 4, "Experimental Syntax and Linguistic Fieldwork," by Maria Polinsky, explores the relationship between linguistic fieldwork and experimental syntax, noting shared goals with methodological differences. It highlights challenges in small populations and endangered languages, emphasizing distinct participant recruitment and data collection. The chapter advocates multidisciplinary collaboration. The chapter discusses conceptual issues and running experiments in fieldwork settings, cautioning against unwarranted experiments. The chapter concludes by rejecting the notion of insurmountable differences, emphasizing the rewarding nature of applying experimental approaches to lesser-known languages and the importance of understanding language structure in both disciplines. It stresses collaborative interdisciplinary teamwork for successful outcomes.

In Part 2 of "The Oxford Handbook of Experimental Syntax," four more chapters (5-8) focus on language acquisition in Syntactic Theory.

Chapter 5, titled "Behavioral Acquisition Methods with Infants," by Laurel Perkins and Jeffrey Lidz, focuses on the challenges and prospects of studying children's syntactic development in infancy. The traditional method of studying children's syntax through analyses of produced sentences is critiqued for its limitations, including issues related to sampling, working memory, and the delay between comprehension and production. To overcome these limitations, the chapter explores the use of measures of comprehension and attention in infants' grammar growth, involving eye movements, looking time, or listening time. The three key areas of investigation are the acquisition of syntactic categories, early phrase structure representations, and grammatical dependencies. The authors conclude by underscoring the value of syntactic bootstrapping, where infants use syntactic information to infer word meanings and highlight the potential contributions of studying infants' sensitivities to achieving a deeper comprehension of language acquisition. The exploration of these syntactic acquisition processes in infancy offers insights into the fundamental mechanisms underlying language development.

Chapter 6, "Behavioral Acquisition Methods with Preschool-Age Children," by Kristen Syrett, provides an in-depth exploration of syntactic development in children aged 3 to 6 years. Building upon the foundation of the preceding chapter focusing on infants, this chapter delves into the acquisition of complex syntactic structures. The text emphasizes the sophisticated syntactic competence exhibited by preschoolers, challenging assumptions of immature grammar contributions. Methodologies for assessing syntactic knowledge become more diverse, with a spotlight on comprehension and acceptability judgments over production. The chapter explores three main areas: knowledge of individual words, interpretation of syntactic constructions, and constraints on overt and covert movement. It also reveals that experimental findings demonstrate that preschoolers often exhibit syntactic competence comparable to that of adults, though performance differences exist. The chapter concludes with key insights into syntactic development, highlighting the intricate interconnection of syntax with semantics and pragmatics in language acquisition. The chapter calls for nuanced methodologies to unravel preschoolers' syntactic knowledge and further our understanding of language development.

Chapter 7, "Modeling Syntactic Acquisition," by Lisa S. Pearl, explores the challenges children face in learning to use verbs correctly, particularly focusing on the linking problem, which involves mapping thematic roles to syntactic argument positions. A case study in the chapter indicates that children are sensitive to cues like animacy in this classification process. Another case study in the chapter investigates how children learn verb classes, considering two theories: the Uniformity of Theta Assignment Hypothesis (UTAH) and its relativized form (rUTAH). The findings suggest that children's knowledge of linking patterns evolves over time, with UTAH or rUTAH explaining verb classes at different ages. This implies that children may acquire knowledge of linking patterns gradually rather than having innate knowledge. In essence, the chapter provides insights into how children navigate the complexities of the linking problem when learning verb classes.

Chapter 8, titled "Artificial Language Learning," by Jennifer Culbertson, explores the history, applications, and challenges of artificial language learning experiments in the fields of psychology and linguistics. The chapter traces the evolution of these experiments from early investigations into learners' ability to extract implicit rules from structured input to more sophisticated paradigms incorporating distributional information and statistical learning. The chapter advocates for the value of artificial language learning experiments in providing controlled environments to test hypothesized constraints. It introduces four main paradigms: "ease of learning," "poverty-of-the-stimulus" (extrapolation), "regularization," and "silent gesture." These paradigms vary in terms of input, learning involvement, and behavioral measures. The text then offers a summary of key methods and results, focusing on syntactic patterns. The subsequent sections delve into specific phenomena such as simplicity, naturalness, and communicative efficiency, examining how artificial language learning experiments contribute to the understanding of these aspects in syntactic systems. The chapter concludes by addressing additional studies on processing and perception, emphasizing the role of cognitive biases in shaping linguistic structures, particularly in word order patterns and morpheme order.
Part 3 begins with Chapter 9 and continues on to Chapter 14, with a common theme of psychological methods used within Syntactic Theory.

In Chapter 9, “Self-Paced Reading,” Masaya Yoshida explores the application of the self-paced reading (SPR) method in syntactic theory, with a focus on sentence comprehension research. The SPR method, designed to simulate natural reading, measures reading time for each word or phrase. Yoshida discusses the shift from traditional linguistic methods to larger-scale behavioral experiments like SPR, emphasizing their potential to contribute valuable data to formal syntactic theories. The chapter discusses two cases to illustrate insights gained from online sentence-processing experiments. Firstly, the argument/adjunct distinction is explored using lexical frequency effects to differentiate arguments from adjuncts. Secondly, the study of parasitic gaps and islands demonstrates how online experiments can elucidate linguistic phenomena and distinguish between grammatical and processing-based explanations. In summary, Yoshida's chapter underscores the complementary role of online sentence processing experiments, particularly SPR, in advancing our understanding of formal syntactic theories. These experiments provide crucial insights into the cognitive processes of online reading, bridging the gap between linguistic theories and real-time sentence comprehension.

Chapter 10, "Eye-Tracking and Experimental Syntax," by Dave Kush and Brian Dillon, provides an in-depth exploration of the integration of eye-tracking technology into the study of reading behavior, particularly its application in experimental syntax. The authors introduce the concept of experimental syntax, highlighting its departure from traditional syntactic inquiry by incorporating formal experimental design and quantitative analysis of acceptability data. The chapter covers the theoretical foundations of eye-tracking in reading, presenting the E-Z Reader model that underscores the serial, attention-driven nature of reading. It explains how eye movements, characterized by fixations and saccades, offer insights into lexical access and higher-order syntactic and semantic integration processes. The chapter serves as a guide for experimental syntacticians, emphasizing the significance of theoretical and methodological considerations in eye-tracking studies. It underscores the need for a committed parsing model, explores the relevance of findings for syntactic theory, and highlights the impact of online measures on traditional grammatical distinctions.

Chapter 11, “Speed-accuracy Trade-off Modeling and Its Interface with Experimental Syntax,” by Stephani Foraker, Ian Cunnings, and Andrea E. Martin, delves into the Speed–Accuracy Trade-Off (SAT) technique's application in psycholinguistics and experimental syntax. The SAT method, which evaluates the trade-off between speed and accuracy in linguistic judgments over time, is discussed as a powerful tool providing unbiased insights into the time course of language processing. Focusing on studies employing SAT, particularly those by McElree, the chapter explores how sentence elements' distance and hierarchy impact processing time and accuracy. Findings consistently support a direct-access retrieval mechanism, challenging the notion of serial scanning of syntactic structures during retrieval. The text delves into syntactic complexity, morphosyntactic information, and the role of grammatical syntax in retrieval interference during long-distance dependency resolution. Overall, the chapter emphasizes SAT's pivotal role in disentangling speed and accuracy, providing nuanced insights into the intricate dynamics of language processing and its intersection with memory operations.

Chapter 12, “Formal Methods in Experimental Syntax,” by Tim Hunter, discusses the application of formal methods to enhance empirical evaluations of natural language syntax theories. The central focus is on linking hypotheses that necessitate syntactic theories to adopt explicit and self-contained formal grammars. Two classes of linking hypotheses are introduced: those based on information-theoretic complexity metrics (such as surprisal or entropy reduction) and those rooted in automata-theoretic models of parsing. These linking hypotheses serve to connect syntactic theories with sentence-processing observations, enhancing empirical testability. Ultimately, the chapter provides a comprehensive framework for linking syntactic theories to empirical observations, offering a basis for testing and evaluating different grammatical hypotheses in sentence processing.

Chapter 13, “Investigating Syntactic Structure and Processing in the Auditory Modality,” by Mara Breen and Katy Carlson, presents a thorough exploration of syntactic structure and processing in the auditory domain, underscoring the importance of studying spoken language to unravel fundamental aspects of human communication. The authors cover theoretical challenges, charting the historical perspectives on the interplay between syntactic and prosodic structures. They engage with recent models like Optimality Theory and Alignment theory, aiming to capture the nuanced relationship between syntax and prosody. The chapter also underscores the intricacies of collecting natural-sounding productions and analyzing prosody. Towards the end of the chapter (13.5), the authors advocate for incorporating auditory studies into experimental syntax despite challenges. They summarize key findings on prosodic boundaries, pitch accents, and their role in sentence processing. Emphasizing the interconnectedness of prosody and syntax, the authors encourage researchers to explore how entire prosodic contours interact with syntactic constraints.

In Chapter 14, “Language-processing Experiments in the Field,” by Matthew Wagers and Sandra Chung delve into the details of conducting language-processing experiments in small language communities, using their extensive experience with Chamorro in the U.S. Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands as a case study. The authors emphasize the necessity of adapting experimental designs to the cultural and practical realities of fieldwork. The chapter explores challenges in implementing experimental designs, focusing on material creation, cultural relevance, and participant engagement. Two field-based experimental methods, Self-paced listening, and preferential looking, are introduced. Cultural issues in recruitment, delivery, and informed consent are addressed. The authors stress the need for a holistic and minimalist outlook, acknowledging the diversity among small language communities and advocating for an adaptive, culturally sensitive approach to experimental linguistics. The chapter provides valuable reflections and practical considerations for researchers engaging in language-processing experiments in the field.

Part 4 of the book entails Chapters 15, 16, and 17 and also includes the final reflection chapter (18) despite it standing relatively on its own. Part 4 addresses the usage of neurolinguistic methods in Syntactic Theory.

Chapter 15, "Electrophysiological Methods," by Jon Sprouse and Diogo Almeida, explores the potential applications of electrophysiological measures, particularly electroencephalography (EEG) and magnetoencephalography (MEG), in experimental syntax. The authors discuss the historical dominance of EEG and MEG in language processing studies and the importance of gaining insights into syntactic theories. The chapter provides a foundation in electricity, neurobiology, and wave mathematics, essential for understanding EEG and MEG as tools in experimental syntax. It emphasizes the challenges associated with EEG, such as source localization limitations, and introduces key analysis techniques like event-related potential (ERP) and time-frequency decomposition. The authors also acknowledge the potential benefits and challenges of using EEG and MEG in syntax research, recommending careful consideration due to biological and methodological complexities. Despite the risks, they highlight the method's exciting potential for advancing experimental syntax.

Chapter 16, "Hemodynamic Methods," by Jonathan R. Brennan, considers the application of hemodynamic techniques, such as fMRI and PET, in studying syntactic representations and computations. It introduces the concept of linking hypotheses to connect grammatical principles with brain signals, emphasizing the need for explicit and well-defined assumptions in this interdisciplinary field. The chapter explores the role of predictability in syntactic processing, discussing studies that demonstrate how predictability modulates brain activity at various levels. It highlights the challenges and opportunities presented by stimulus predictability, suggesting that computational psycholinguistics can contribute to refining linking hypotheses. Brennan's chapter serves as a comprehensive guide to the challenges and progress in using hemodynamic methods to study syntax. It sets the stage for future research by providing a framework for linking hypotheses and highlighting the importance of explicit theoretical connections between syntactic representations and brain signals.

Chapter 17, “Aphasia and Syntax,” by William Matchin and Corianna Rogalsky, scrutinizes the intricate interplay between aphasia and syntactic theory, particularly focusing on agrammatism resulting from brain injury. Aphasia is a language disorder resulting from brain damage, typically due to stroke or injury, that impairs the ability to comprehend or express language, affecting speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills to varying degrees. The authors critique the Sentence-Processing Complexity (SPC) model, advocating for a shift towards grammatical frameworks like the Minimalist Program and tree-adjoining grammar. They introduce morphosyntactic working memory and identify two co-occurring syndromes in Broca's aphasia patients: deficits in phonological WM shared with conduction aphasia, explaining similarities in agrammatic sentence comprehension, and deficits in morphosyntactic WM accounting for agrammatic production. The chapter offers a comprehensive overview of challenges, history, and potential research directions in understanding language deficits in aphasia.

Chapter 18 of "The Cambridge Handbook of Experimental Syntax" offers diverse perspectives on the future of the field. Diogo Almeida stresses structured thinking about acceptability judgments and syntax theories for theoretical simplification. Mara Breen and Katy Carlson advocate for studying prosody and sentence processing trends, emphasizing probabilistic computational models and the interplay between prosody and syntax. Jonathan R. Brennan discusses challenges in neurolinguistics, promoting reasonable mappings between neural and linguistic constructs. Jennifer Culbertson addresses field divisions, emphasizing experiments' role in understanding language behavior and promoting inclusive theories. Stephani Foraker, Ian Cunnings, and Andrea E. Martin propose integration with linguistics subfields, focusing on memory architecture and island phenomena. Tim Hunter explores relationships between gradient acceptability judgments and discrete grammatical notions. Elsi Kaiser and Jeffrey Runner stress expanding work on binding and coreference to diverse languages. Dave Kush and Brian Dillon discuss linking formal theories with human sentence processing, anticipating the field's evolution toward interdisciplinary collaboration. Common themes include structured thinking, interdisciplinary integration, addressing fundamental questions and expanding experimental work to diverse languages, with an emphasis on collaboration, theoretical solidity, and relevance to syntacticians.

EVALUATION

The "Oxford Handbook of Experimental Syntax" is a comprehensive compilation of chapters encompassing various experimental approaches to syntax. The chapters span a wide spectrum, from investigating the reliability of acceptability judgments to exploring the relationship between aphasia and syntactic theory. The book attempts to be as interdisciplinary in nature as possible with such dense content material. The book also attempts to be a place where both aspiring researchers and experienced researchers looking for a new direction can find inspiration and information. Ultimately, this book considers itself a type of encyclopedia demonstrating the various aspects of experimental syntax that are available to both new and old members of the field.

The authors largely succeed in achieving their goals, offering in-depth insights into experimental methodologies applied to syntax. Chapter 1, for instance, discusses the challenges of validating cognitive properties like acceptability, emphasizing the importance of formal experimental methods. The goals of each subsequent chapter are similarly achieved, contributing to the general understanding of experimental syntax.

The intended audience for the book is clearly scholars, researchers, and advanced students in linguistics, psycholinguistics, and cognitive sciences. While some chapters may be challenging for beginners, the diversity of topics covered ensures that the book caters to a broad spectrum of readers within the linguistic community. Nevertheless, the heavy emphasis on formal methods in some chapters, such as Chapter 12, might pose a challenge for readers without a strong background in formal linguistics, indicating a potential drawback.

The contextualization of the book within the broader literature on experimental syntax is well-executed. Each chapter integrates with existing debates, synthesizing findings from various studies and positioning itself as a substantial addition to linguistic research. The common thread of experimental approaches binds the diverse topics together, maintaining a cohesive narrative throughout.

The book's most positive aspects include its methodological rigor and diversity. Several chapters, such as Chapter 9 on the self-paced reading method and Chapter 15 on electrophysiological methods, exhibit a lot of commitment to methodological rigor, providing clear insights into experimental design, data collection, and analysis. The diversity in topics, ranging from studies with infants (Chapter 5) to artificial language learning experiments (Chapter 8), contributes to a well-rounded exploration of experimental syntax.

The implications for future research are discussed at multiple points throughout the book. Chapter 18, especially, offers insightful perspectives on potential research directions, encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration with other fields of study.

Another positive aspect of the book is its inclusion of non-mainstream aspects of language/languages. Chapter 14 serves as a notable example of the book's commitment to inclusivity. By focusing on language-processing experiments in small language communities, the chapter emphasizes the importance of adapting designs to cultural realities and advocating for a culturally sensitive approach in experimental linguistics.

In conclusion, "The Oxford Handbook of Experimental Syntax" stands as a large contribution to the field, offering numerous insights into experimental syntax.

ABOUT THE REVIEWER

Alexander Holmberg is an MA student in Applied Linguistics at Northern Arizona University, where he also teaches English composition. Alexander’s current research interests include English grammar using corpus-based approaches along with a special focus on the complexity of English grammar across different registers. He also has interests in vocabulary acquisition, both in terms of psycholinguistics and teaching pedagogy. His other interests include register studies, corpus methods and quantitative approaches to data analysis, and general EFL/ESL methodologies.