Online processing of wh -questions in Italian: evidence from eye tracking

This study investigates the processing of subject and object direct questions headed by wh-elements such as chi (i.e. who) and quale-NP (i.e. which-NP) in Italian, a pro-drop language that allows post-verbal subjects. In Italian, chi and quale-NP questions are ambiguous: they can be interpreted as either subject or object, in the absence of morphological or pragmatic disambiguation. Using eye tracking techniques, we explore how different types of wh-elements (chi vs. quale-NP) and extraction sites (subject vs. object) are processed when disambiguated by number verbal agreement. A distinct processing pattern emerges between chi and quale-NP questions: while quale-NP questions generally demand more cognitive effort when encountering the verb, chi questions necessitate increased processing during post-verbal NP integration. Additionally, a wh-subject extraction preference is observed, which reflects an active gap filling strategy across types of wh-elements. These findings are discussed in terms of the processing mechanisms underlying the elaboration of wh-questions.