What Makes Us More Egocentric in Communication? The Role of Referent Features and Individual Differences. Issue 1 (2nd January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dębska, Agnieszka; Rączaszek-Leonardi, Joanna
• Is Part Of: Discourse processes. Volume 55:Issue 1(2018)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 11
• Publication Date: 2018-01-02
• Subjects: Discourse analysis -- Periodicals; 401.41
• DOI: 10.1080/0163853X.2016.1198137
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0163-853X

Abstract

Abstract : The perspective-adjustment model of language interpretation assumes an initial egocentric stage in comprehension that is only later adjusted to the interlocutor's perspective. Moreover, substantial processing resources are involved in perspective-taking. However, many experiments in the perspective-adjustment framework do not control for visual salience and semantic typicality of referents. We conducted a referential task experiment focusing on salience and typicality as potential factors that may increase the cognitive costs of an interpretation. We additionally manipulated the interactive versus non-interactive nature of the task (with or without an interlocutor) to test the effects of perspective-taking on interpretation. Saliency and typicality of referents influenced the interpretation process when they were in conflict with the perspective-taking factor. Also, the interactive situations were more cognitively demanding than the non-interactive ones. These results are consistent with the constraint-based model that views interpretation as a probabilistic process of competition between constraints.