ABSTRACT
The focus of this chapter is on the role of meaning in the comprehension of text. Our concern is almost entirely restricted to listening to or reading text, rather than with interactive dialogue. To the extent that meaning depends upon word meaning, we discuss some of the literature on accessing word meaning, but with an emphasis on how access relates to the processing of discourse. In this way, the treatment is meant to complement that of Moss and Gaskell (Chapter 3). Similarly, meaning in discourse is closely related to discourse processing, as discussed by both Garnham (on reference) and Gernsbacher (on integration). Our course will be between these two approaches.
