Using Brain Imaging to Gauge Difficulties in Processing Ambiguous Text by Non-native Speakers

Processing ambiguous text is an ever challenging problem for humans. In this study, we investigate how native-Arabic speakers face problems in processing their non-native English language text which involves ambiguity. As a case study, we focus on prepositional-phrase (PP) attachment ambiguity whereby a PP can be attached to the preceding noun (aka low attachment) or the preceding verb (aka high attachment). We setup an experiment in which human participants read text on a computer screen and their brain activity is monitored using near infrared spectroscopy. Participants read two types of text: one involving PP-attachment ambiguity and the other unambiguous text which is used as a control for comparison purposes. The brain activity data for ambiguous and control text are clustered using hierarchical-clustering technique available in Weka. The data reveal that Arabic speakers face more difficulty in processing ambiguous text as compared to unambiguous text.

@article{Khan2019,
  title     = {Using Brain Imaging to Gauge Difficulties in Processing Ambiguous Text by Non-native Speakers},
  journal   = {International Journal of Advanced Computer Science and Applications},
  volume    = {10},
  number    = {10},
  year      = {2019},
  publisher = {The Science and Information Organization},
  author    = {Imtiaz Hussain Khan},
  doi       = {10.14569/IJACSA.2019.0101014},
  url       = {https://doi.org/10.14569/IJACSA.2019.0101014}
}