Sentence Processing

Abstract

Because the sentence is the basic unit of language, and to understand it is a prerequisite for understanding the supersentential levels of language, this study aims at investigating the structural properties of a sentence as well as the speaker-listener relationship which helps to establish a mutual understanding of each other’s intention. Besides, the present study also aims at finding out the reasons behind ambiguity in sentences and how to disambiguate such sentences. The study involves investigating the perceptual mechanisms utilized by the listener and helps him/ her to understand the meaning of the sentence he hears or listens to .If the listener understands what the speaker means or intends to convey, the conversation can continue and the speaker can realize his aim by encouraging the listener to establish a social relationship which is one of the basic functions of any human language. But if the listener fails to understand the speaker, no communication can continue between them. Not only this, but misunderstanding or misinterpreting the speaker lead to adverse results that may spoil social ties instead of enhancing them.