Good-enough language production. Issue 4 (April 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Goldberg, Adele E.; Ferreira, Fernanda
• Is Part Of: Trends in cognitive sciences. Volume 26:Issue 4(2022)
• Page Start: 300
• Page End: 311
• Publication Date: 2022-04
• Subjects: language production -- communication -- good-enough processing; Cognitive science -- Periodicals; Cognitive neuroscience -- Periodicals; 153.05
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tics.2022.01.005
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1364-6613

Abstract

Abstract : Our ability to comprehend and produce language is one of humans' most impressive skills, but it is not flawless. We must convey and interpret messages via a noisy channel in ever-changing contexts and we sometimes fail to access an optimal combination of words and grammatical constructions. Here, we extend the notion of good-enough (GN) comprehension to GN production, which allows us to unify a wide range of phenomena including overly vague word choices, agreement errors, resumptive pronouns, transfer effects, and children's overextensions and regularizations. We suggest these all involve the accessing and production of a 'GN' option when a more-optimal option is inaccessible. The role of accessibility highlights the need to relate memory encoding and retrieval processes to language comprehension and production. Highlights: The possibility of good-enough (GN) language production has rarely been raised until recently, although GN comprehension is widely recognized. The production of overly vague words, agreement errors, and resumptive pronouns as well as children's overextensions and regularizations all illustrate GN production. GN production occurs when a language user accesses a nonoptimal albeit semantically relevant lexical or grammatical construction to express their intended message because a more-optimal construction is inaccessible at the moment of speaking (or signing). Accessibility is increased by contextual cues, frequency, and priming and decreased by interference from competitors. Communication is reasonably successful despite imperfect encoding or retrieval from memory because neither production nor comprehension is brittle. The current work allows comprehension and production to be brought into closer alignment and encourages increased focus on accessibility from memory.