Abstract / Description of output
When speakers describe the world, they typically do so from their own perspective. However, they are able to adopt a different perspective, and sometimes do so even when they are not communicating with someone who has a different perspective from their own. In three experiments, we investigated the factors that might lead speakers to adopt a non-self perspective. Participants described how objects were located in scenes that contained no other entity, a person, or a symmetrical plant. They were more likely to adopt a non-self perspective (e.g., using to the left to refer to an object on their own right) if the scene contained a person facing them than a person facing away or a plant, and if it contained a person who could see (and potentially act on) the object than a person who could not, even when that person showed no intention to act. Our results suggest that speakers can put themselves in the shoes of another potential agent and use a simulation of that agent’s perspective as the basis for formulating their descriptions.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 104070 |
Journal | Cognition |
Volume | 194 |
Early online date | 24 Oct 2019 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Jan 2020 |
Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)
- perspective taking
- spatial language production
- self
- other
- agency
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Holly Branigan
- School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences - Personal Chair in Psychology of Language and Cognition
- Edinburgh Neuroscience
Person: Academic: Research Active