Speed, L. & Vigliocco, G.
UCL
The embodied approach to language processing describes understanding sentences as the mental simulation of the described events, recruiting the same resources as those used in perception and action. This research looks specifically at the representation of speed in language (e.g. walking vs. running). Presenting results from an eye-tracking study, I will provide evidence for the mental simulation of speed in language. Participants were presented with visual scenes and spoken sentences describing fast or slow events (e.g. The lion ambled/dashed to the balloon). Speed was either encoded in the verb of the sentence (e.g. amble) or with an adverb (e.g. quickly). Additionally, sentences had either a fast or slow speaking rate. Scenes contained the subject of the sentence, the target and a distractor. Results show a differential pattern of eye movements between fast and slow events with an early interaction with speaking rate. Thus, eye movements reflect the understanding of speed events being described in language in a similar way to viewing the same event in the world. There is also an indication that other sources of speed information (e.g. in speaking rate) can be used in the online interpretation of events and can hinder processing when sources are in competition.