The role of perspective in identifying domains of reference.
We used the contrastive expectation associated with scalar adjectives to examine whether listeners are sensitive to the distinction between common and privileged information during real-time reference resolution. Our results show that listeners used this distinction to narrow the set of potential referents to objects with contrasts in common ground from the earliest moments. These results extend previous evidence that ground information influences real-time language processing by showing that the distinction between common and privileged information is used without being triggered by unusual circumstances.
Heller
Daphna
D
Department of Brain & Cognitive Sciences, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA. dheller@ling.rochester.edu
Grodner
Daniel
D
Tanenhaus
Michael K
MK
D001288:Attention; D032882:Comprehension; D004193:Discrimination Learning; D005403:Fixation, Ocular; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D009949:Orientation; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual; D018187:Personal Construct Theory; D011578:Psycholinguistics; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D012858:Size Perception; D013067:Speech Perception; D014705:Verbal Behavior