Effect of perceptual simulation on sentence production using word sets

Abstract

Many recent studies, primarily about comprehension, have shown that perceptual simulation occurs in language processing. We conducted two studies to investigate how such perceptual simulation influences sentence production. In both studies, the participants were first repeatedly presented with pictures of an object with a specific shape (e.g., an unbroken egg or a broken egg). In Study 1, they produced a sentence using two words (e.g., egg, refrigerator) and the onset times for their speech were recorded. In Study 2, they were presented with three words and asked to produce a sentence from the target word (e.g., egg) and a word they freely chose from the others (e.g., refrigerator or skillet). Results indicated that visual information matching the sentences did not influence speech onset times (Study 1). However, more sentences implied that the shape matched the presented picture compared to the other picture (Study 2). This suggests perceptual simulation plays an important role in sentence production when spontaneously formulating the message to be conveyed.