Representations and Processes in the Interpretation of Pronouns: New Evidence from Spanish and French

Abstract

Three experiments, in Spanish and French, examined the interpretation of pronouns which, on the basis of their form, were either referentially determinate or referentially indeterminate. Because Spanish and French nouns referring to objects have arbitrary grammatical genders, we were able to compare cases in which referential determinacy might be semantically based with those where it could only be morphologically based. This comparison establishes the type of representation-superficial or content-based-used to interpret the pronouns. Contrary to a view based on a linguistic classification of anaphoric expressions, we found clear evidence for the role of a superficial representation in the interpretation of pronouns. However, the extent of its involvement appeared to diminish rapidly, though we found evidence that it was under strategic control.