Inferences in the Comprehension of Language

Abstract

Previous research in experimental psychology and artificial intelligence (AI) states that listeners and readers make many inferences in their attempts to understand oral and written discourse. This paper tries to explore the types of inference listeners / readers make to understand language. It also investigates the role of each type in the course of understanding a text.

Keywords: Inferences , Comprehension , Artificial Intelligence , Psycholinguistic Theories