Processing noncanonical sentences: effects of context on online processing and (mis)interpretation

Prior research has shown that sentences with noncanonical argument order (e.g., patient-before- agent instead of agent-before-patient order) are associated additional online processing difficulty, but this difficulty can be alleviated if the discourse context licenses order. Other studies demonstrated prone to misinterpretation effects: comprehenders sometimes seem form interpretations incorrect assignments semantic roles NPs. However, those tested in isolation. To further clarify source effects, we designed three experiments investigated how properties licensing affect and final interpretation. All unambiguous active declarative German agentive verbs two arguments, probing both (using selfpaced reading) accuracy interpretation wh-comprehension questions). Besides word (subject-before-object, SO vs. object-before-subject, OS), varied preceding target sentence (neutral OS, Experiment 1), type NP serving as object (definite demonstrative NP, 2) question comprehension (two-argument one-argument wh-questions, 3). Consistent earlier findings, observed OS facilitated early regions. they did barely on questions, being a function type. Our results support models explain effects terms task-specific retrieval processes. A mechanism capturing is proposed.