Abstract
The present study attempted to explore the abstract priming effects from mathematical equations to Mandarin Chinese structure NP1 + You + NP2 + Hen + AP in an on-line comprehension task with the aim to figure out the mechanism that underlying these effects. The results revealed that compared with baseline priming conditions, participants tended to choose more high-attachment options in high-attachment priming conditions and more low-attachment priming options in low-attachment priming conditions. Such difference had reached a significant level, which provided evidence for the shared structural representation across mathematical and linguistic domains. Additionally, the fixations sequences during arithmetic calculations reflected those equations were processed hierarchically and could be extracted in parallel instead of being scanned in a sequentially left-to-right order. Our results have provided some evidence for the Representational Account.
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Acknowledgements
This research is supported by a National Social Science Foundation of China (Grant Number 19BYY079).
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Appendix 1 (Testing Items)
Appendix 1 (Testing Items)
Item1.
High-attachment prime: (3 + 4 + 1) × 3 =
Low-attachment prime: 3 + (4 + 1 × 3) =
Baseline prime: 3 × 11 =
Target structure: 虎妞有个哥哥很得意。
A: 虎妞很得意。 B: 哥哥很得意。
Item 2.
High-attachment prime: (6 + 2 + 3) × 2 =
Low-attachment prime: 6 + (2 + 3 × 2) =
Baseline prime: 3 + 4 =
Target structure: 姑姑有个儿子很炫耀。
A: 姑姑很炫耀。 B: 儿子很炫耀。
Item 3.
High-attachment prime: (8 + 5 + 2) × 4 =
Low-attachment prime: 8 + (5 + 2 × 4) =
Baseline prime: 27 ÷ 3 =
Target structure: 夫妇有个孩子很开心。
A: 夫妇很开心。 B: 孩子很开心。
Item 4.
High-attachment prime: (7 + 2 + 6) ÷ 3 =
Low-attachment prime: 7 + (2 + 6 ÷ 3) =
Baseline prime: 17 × 2 =
Target structure: 小夏有个后妈很郁闷。
A: 小夏很郁闷。 B: 后妈很郁闷。
Item 5.
High-attachment prime: (20 − 6 + 1) × 5 =
Low-attachment prime: 20 − (6 + 1 × 5) =
Baseline prime: 26–4 =
Target structure: 老王有个女儿很骄傲。
A: 老王很骄傲。 B: 女儿很骄傲。
Item 6.
High-attachment prime: (3 + 19 − 2) × 3 =
Low-attachment prime: 3 + (19 − 2 × 3) =
Baseline prime: 8 × 4 =
Target structure: 小明有个笔友很幸运。
A: 小明很幸运。 B: 笔友很幸运。
Item 7.
High-attachment prime: (4 + 16 − 3) × 2 =
Low-attachment prime: 4 + (16 − 3 × 2) =
Baseline prime: 11 × 4 =
Target structure: 老头有个网友很时尚。
A: 老头很时尚。 B: 网友很时尚。
Item 8.
High-attachment prime: (19 − 9 − 2) × 2 =
Low-attachment prime: 19 − (9 − 2 × 2) =
Baseline prime: 11 + 8 =
Target structure: 琪琪有个损友很伤心。
A: 琪琪很伤心。 B: 损友很伤心。
Item 9.
High-attachment prime: (19 + 5 − 4) ÷ 4 =
Low-attachment prime: 19 + (5 − 4 ÷ 4) =
Baseline prime: 24 ÷ 12 =
Target structure: 奶奶有个孙女很快乐。
A:奶奶很快乐。 B: 孙女很快乐。
Item 10.
High-attachment prime: (1 + 2 + 3) ÷ 3 =
Low-attachment prime: 1 + (2 + 3 ÷ 3) =
Baseline prime: 21–12 =
Target structure: 倩倩有个干爹很神气。
A: 倩倩很神气。 B: 干爹很神气。
Item 11.
High-attachment prime: (16 − 5 + 2) × 2 =
Low-attachment prime: 16 − (5 + 2 × 2) =
Baseline prime: 14 × 4 =
Target structure: 刘姐有个对象很积极。
A: 刘姐很积极。 B: 对象很积极。
Item 12.
High-attachment prime: (13 + 5 − 6) ÷ 6 =
Low-attachment prime: 13 + (5 − 6 ÷ 6) =
Baseline prime: 21 + 5 =
Target structure: 爷爷有个战友很自豪。
A: 爷爷很自豪。 B: 战友很自豪。
Item 13.
High-attachment prime: (11 − 2 + 18) ÷ 9 =
Low-attachment prime: 11 − (2 + 18 ÷ 9) =
Baseline prime: 22–4 =
Target structure: 保安有个孙子很兴奋。
A: 保安很兴奋。 B: 孙子很兴奋。
Item 14.
High-attachment prime: (3 + 11 + 6) × 2 =
Low-attachment prime: 3 + (11 + 6 × 2) =
Baseline prime: 11 + 14 =
Target structure: 少女有个男友很害羞。
A: 少女很害羞。 B: 男友很害羞。
Item 15.
High-attachment prime: (18 − 4 + 5) × 2 =
Low-attachment prime: 18 − (4 + 5 × 2) =
Baseline prime: 18–9 =
Target structure: 张三有个老婆很幸福。
A: 张三很幸福。 B: 老婆很幸福。
Item 16.
High-attachment prime: (13 − 1 + 9) ÷ 3 =
Low-attachment prime: 13 − (1 + 9 ÷ 3) =
Baseline prime: 12 ÷ 3 =
Target structure: 小雨有个闺蜜很欢乐。
A: 小雨很欢乐。 B: 闺蜜很欢乐。
Item 17.
High-attachment prime: (17 + 1 + 8) ÷ 2 =
Low-attachment prime: 17 + (1 + 8 ÷ 2) =
Baseline prime: 23–7 =
Target structure: 老爸有个哥们很得瑟。
A: 老爸很得瑟。 B: 哥们很得瑟。
Item 18.
High-attachment prime: (9 + 3 − 1) × 2 =
Low-attachment prime: 9 + (3 − 1 × 2) =
Baseline prime: 13 × 2 =
Target structure: 乐乐有个姐姐很娇气。
A: 乐乐很娇气。 B: 姐姐很娇气。
Item 19.
High-attachment prime: (14 + 1 + 3) ÷ 3 =
Low-attachment prime: 14 + (1 + 3 ÷ 3) =
Baseline prime: 17 + 21 =
Target structure: 经理有个助理很高兴。
A: 经理很高兴。 B: 助理很高兴。
Item 20.
High-attachment prime: (15 − 9 − 3) × 2 =
Low-attachment prime: 15 − (9 − 3 × 2) =
Baseline prime: 11 × 4 =
Target structure: 老李有个老伴很满足。
A: 老李很满足。 B: 老伴很满足。
Item 21.
High-attachment prime: (21 − 2 + 6) × 2 =
Low-attachment prime: 21 − (2 + 6 × 2) =
Baseline prime: 16–9 =
Target structure: 哥哥有个发小很快活。
A: 哥哥很快活。 B: 发小很快活。
Item 22.
High-attachment prime: (12 + 3 − 5) ÷ 5 =
Low-attachment prime: 12 + (3 − 5 ÷ 5) =
Baseline prime: 21 ÷ 3 =
Target structure: 小兰有个哥哥很卖弄。
A: 小兰很卖弄。 B: 哥哥很卖弄。
Item 23.
High-attachment prime: (1 + 7 + 3) × 2 =
Low-attachment prime: 1 + (7 + 3 × 2) =
Baseline prime: 17 + 7 =
Target structure: 娇娇有个老乡很激动。
A: 娇娇很激动。b: 老乡很激动。
Item 24.
High-attachment prime: (23 − 12 − 2) × 5 =
Low-attachment prime: 23 − (12 − 2 × 5) =
Baseline prime: 23 × 2 =
Target structure: 专家有个助手很轻松。
A: 专家很轻松。 B: 助手很轻松。
Item 25.
High-attachment prime: (2 + 4 + 3) × 3 =
Low-attachment prime: 2 + (4 + 3 × 3) =
Baseline prime: 2 × 11 =
Target structure: 张伟有个对手很焦虑。
A: 张伟很焦虑。 B: 对手很焦虑。
Item 26.
High-attachment prime: 5 + (2 + 4 × 2) =
Low-attachment prime: 5 + (2 + 4 × 2) =
Baseline prime: 3 + 4 =
Target structure: 王芳有个领导很紧张。
A: 王芳很紧张。 B: 领导很紧张。
Item 27.
High-attachment prime: (7 + 6 + 2) × 4 =
Low-attachment prime: 7 + (6 + 2 × 4) =
Baseline prime: 27 ÷ 3 =
Target structure: 老张有个养子很烦闷。
A: 老张很烦闷。 B: 养子很烦闷。
Item 28.
High-attachment prime: (5 + 4 + 6) ÷ 3 =
Low-attachment prime: 5 + (4 + 6 ÷ 3) =
Baseline prime: 14 × 2 =
Target structure: 彭彭有个妹妹很自豪。
A: 彭彭很自豪。 B: 妹妹很自豪。
Item 29.
High-attachment prime: (9 − 3 + 1) × 5 =
Low-attachment prime: 9 − (3 + 1 × 5) =
Baseline prime: 22–4 =
Target structure: 李敏有个儿子很感恩。
A: 李敏很感恩。 B: 儿子很感恩。
Item 30.
High-attachment prime: (4 + 8 − 2) × 3 =
Low-attachment prime: 4 + (8 − 2 × 3) =
Baseline prime: 7 × 4 =
Target structure: 阿杰有个偶像很幸福。
A: 阿杰很幸福。 B: 偶像很幸福。
Item 31.
High-attachment prime: (2 + 9 − 3) × 2 =
Low-attachment prime: 2 + (9 − 3 × 2) =
Baseline prime: 13 × 4 =
Target structure: 小董有个导师很幸运。
A: 小董很幸运。 B: 导师很幸运。
Item 32.
High-attachment prime: (8 − 4 − 2) × 2 =
Low-attachment prime: 8 − (4 − 2 × 2) =
Baseline prime: 10 + 7 =
Target structure老师有个助教很安心。
A: 老师很安心。 B: 助教很安心。
Item 33.
High-attachment prime: (7 − 3 + 4) ÷ 4 =
Low-attachment prime: 7 − (3 + 4 ÷ 4) =
Baseline prime: 24 ÷ 6 =
Target structure: 皇帝有个宠臣很愚蠢。
A:皇帝很愚蠢。 B: 宠臣很愚蠢。
Item 34.
High-attachment prime: (6 + 6 + 3) ÷ 3 =
Low-attachment prime: 6 + (6 + 3 ÷ 3) =
Baseline prime: 20–12 =
Target structure: 小明有个继父很沮丧。
A: 小明很沮丧。 B: 继父很沮丧。
Item 35.
High-attachment prime: (9 − 4 + 2) × 2 =
Low-attachment prime: 9 − (4 + 2 × 2) =
Baseline prime: 12 × 4 =
Target structure: 奶奶有个外孙很喜悦。
A: 奶奶很喜悦。 B: 外孙很喜悦。
Item 36.
High-attachment prime: (1 + 7 − 6) ÷ 2 =
Low-attachment prime: 1 + (7 − 6 ÷ 2) =
Baseline prime: 12 + 5 =
Target structure: 病人有个同伴很放松。
A: 病人很放松。 B: 同伴很放松。
Item 37.
High-attachment prime: (9 − 5 + 8) ÷ 4 =
Low-attachment prime: 9 − (5 + 8 ÷ 4) =
Baseline prime: 12–4 =
Target structure: 老王有个舞伴很时髦。
A: 老王很时髦。 B: 舞伴很时髦。
Item 38.
High-attachment prime: (4 + 3 + 6) × 2 =
Low-attachment prime: 4 + (3 + 6 × 2) =
Baseline prime: 11 + 4 =
Target structure: 老李有个跟班很欢喜。
A: 老李很欢喜。 B: 跟班很欢喜。
Item 39.
High-attachment prime: (8 − 1 + 2) × 3 =
Low-attachment prime: 8 − (1 + 2 × 3) =
Baseline prime: 13–9 =
Target structure: 老头有个孙女很知足。
A: 老头很知足。 B: 孙女很知足。
Item 40.
High-attachment prime: (9 − 3 + 4) ÷ 3 =
Low-attachment prime: 9 − (3 + 4 ÷ 3) =
Baseline prime: 9 ÷ 3 =
Target structure: 爷爷有个球友很快活。
A: 爷爷很快活。 B: 球友很快活。
Item 41.
High-attachment prime: (7 + 5 − 1) × 2 =
Low-attachment prime: 7 + (5 − 8 × 2) =
Baseline prime: 15–7 =
Target structure: 老师有个差生很着急。
A: 老师很着急。 B: 差生很着急。
Item 42.
High-attachment prime: (8 + 4 + 3) ÷ 3 =
Low-attachment prime: 8 + (4 + 3 ÷ 3) =
Baseline prime: 14 × 2 =
Target structure: 医生有个病人很难过。
A: 医生很难过。 B: 病人很难过。
Item 43.
High-attachment prime: (8 − 5 − 2) × 2 =
Low-attachment prime: 8 − (5–2 × 2) =
Baseline prime: 11 + 20 =
Target structure: 明星有个助理很安逸。
A: 明星很安逸。 B: 助理很安逸。
Item 44.
High-attachment prime: (9 − 1 + 2) × 2 =
Low-attachment prime: 9 − (1 + 2 × 2) =
Baseline prime: 15 × 4 =
Target structure: 老李有个帮手很嚣张。
A: 老李很嚣张。 B: 帮手很嚣张。
Item 45.
High-attachment prime: (8 + 4–6) ÷ 3 =
Low-attachment prime: 8 + (4–6 ÷ 3) =
Baseline prime: 26–9 =
Target structure: 阿飞有个小弟很狂妄。
A: 阿飞很狂妄。 B: 小弟很狂妄。
Item 46.
High-attachment prime: (1 + 8 + 3) × 2 =
Low-attachment prime: 1 + (8 + 3 × 2) =
Baseline prime: 27 ÷ 3 =
Target structure: 玲玲有个大哥很招摇。
A: 玲玲很招摇。 B: 大哥很招摇。
Item 47.
High-attachment prime: (1 + 7 + 3) ÷ 2 =
Low-attachment prime: 7 + (3 + 8 ÷ 2) =
Baseline prime: 13 + 7 =
Target structure: 王刚有个敌手很慌张。
A: 王刚很慌张。B: 敌手很慌张。
Item 48.
High-attachment prime: (9 − 7 − 1) × 4 =
Low-attachment prime: 9 − (7 − 1 × 4) =
Baseline prime: 13 × 2 =
Target structure: 球员有个教练很雀跃。
A: 球员很雀跃。 B: 教练很雀跃。
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Zeng, T., Mao, W. & Gao, Y. An Eye-Tracking Study of Structural Priming from Abstract Arithmetic to Chinese Structure NP1 + You + NP2 + Hen + AP. J Psycholinguist Res 52, 75–100 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10936-021-09819-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10936-021-09819-7