private final WordList getPrevModWords(SLNode modChildren) {
private final WordList getPrevModWords(CKYItem item, SLNode modChildren) {
  private final WordList getPrevModWords(SLNode modChildren) {    if (modChildren == null)      return startWordList;    WordList wordList = prevModWordLookupList;    int wordListLen = wordList.size();    int i = 0; // the index of the previous mod head wordlist    // as long as there are children and we haven't reached the numPrevWords    // limit, set elements of wordList, starting at index 0 (i = 0, initially)    for (SLNode curr = modChildren; curr != null && i < wordListLen; i++) {      CKYItem currItem = (CKYItem)curr.data();      wordList.set(i, currItem.headWord());      curr = curr.next();    }    // if we ran out of children, but haven't finished setting all numPrevWords    // elements of word list, set remainder of word list with startWord    for ( ; i < wordListLen; i++)      wordList.set(i, startWord);    return wordList;  }