Back to the Future: The Role of Past and Future Context Predictability in Incremental Language Production

The investigation into backward predictability effects in language production highlights the significance of both past and future contexts in shaping speech. Two studies utilizing naturalistic speech corpora have introduced a novel information-theoretic predictability measure, which allows for a deeper understanding of how predictability influences word duration and substitution errors. The findings suggest that speakers navigate complex interactions between lexical choices and contextual cues, prioritizing different aspects of communication. This research not only revisits classic predictability effects but also provides a framework for analyzing substitution errors, revealing how speakers balance form, meaning, and context. As language models evolve, these insights are essential for enhancing their predictive capabilities, ultimately benefiting applications in AI and natural language processing.