ATLAS OF LANGUAGE

AT-NAV-G02-011 · ATLAS 259

Working memory

Working memory refers to models of temporarily available information and its processing during a task.

Part of the subject path Philosophy of Language, Thought and Knowledge

Why is this entry in the Atlas?

G · Foundational concept R2 · Necessary foundation

Working memory provides a basis for examining processing limits in comprehension and verbal design. Capacity models require a task context and must not be treated as one undifferentiated store.

Colours and admission grounds

The rectangular label identifies the entry function: F – linguistic figure or procedure; A – analytical concept; G – foundational concept; E – selected concrete case. The rounded badge indicates the admission ground: R1 – distinctive contribution; R2 – necessary foundation; R3 – justified illustrative case. This editorial rationale explains the current selection rather than claiming an undocumented original selection history.

Explanation

Working memory concerns the temporary availability and processing of information for an ongoing task. In language comprehension, earlier parts of a sentence must remain accessible for later dependencies. This is more than a container that holds words up to a fixed limit. Models differ in how maintenance, attention and retrieval interact. In the originating context of agreement attraction, competition between similar features during retrieval is particularly relevant. An error, or reduced disruption from an erroneous sentence, cannot simply be read as evidence of low storage capacity.

Movement of thought

1. Identify the linguistic dependency. 2. Specify the earlier information needed. 3. Identify potentially competing cues. 4. Separate assumptions about storage, retrieval and attention.

Scientific use case

A controlled experiment could vary the number of the subject and a distractor independently, measuring reading times and judgements.

Example

Constructed: In “The report about the journeys is ready”, is must relate to report. Plural journeys provides a competing number cue.

Counterexample

A single agreement error does not establish a person’s general memory ability.

Distinction

Distinguish working memory from simple short-term storage, long-term knowledge and intelligence; attraction is not a capacity diagnosis.

Effect on thought and perception

A retrieval perspective can help explain why structurally inappropriate information nevertheless affects processing.

Resonance

What was just said remains an accessible trace as the sentence continues to grow.

Provenance

Parallel source review reconciled 2026-10-07; human specialist review not claimed.

Cite this entry

Reich, Michael (Hrsg./ed.): „Working memory“. Atlas der Sprache, AT-NAV-G02-011. ATLAS 259, data model 1.6.0. https://atlasoflanguage.com/concept/AT-NAV-G02-011

https://atlasoflanguage.com/concept/AT-NAV-G02-011

The address remains stable; editorial content may evolve. Editorial reading state: 2026-10-15. Include your access date for precise references.