Scalar bounds and expected values of comparatively modified numerals
Scalar bounds and expected values of comparatively modified numerals
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DOI：
10.1016/j.jml.2019.104068
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发表时间：
2020-04-01
影响因子：
4.3
通讯作者：
Benz, Anton
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Hesse, Christoph;Benz, Anton
说话者通常会运用世界知识来推断数词的等级含义。例如，在“一个异常炎热的夏天”的背景下，演讲者将利用他们对夏季平均温度和记录温度的了解来构建一个潜在值的范围。然而，当他们没有强烈的期望或背景信息较少时，他们是如何做到这一点的，这一点并不清楚。1270名以美国英语为母语的成年人被展示了简短的对话和故事，其中包含由“多于”和“少于”修饰的数字，并被要求估计潜在值的范围，并说出他们认为最有可能的潜在值。结果表明，最有可能的值遵循韦伯分数相对于数字的数量级和偏好的某些边界的范围移位根据类似的韦伯分数。韦伯分数之间的相似性发现和敏锐的近似数字系统（ANS）表明，ANS引导标量含义在相对修改的数字，每当上下文是不够的信息，以完善经验的信念的范围和可能性的潜在价值。与以前的研究结果相反，圆度的修改数字并没有发挥至关重要的作用。
Speakers routinely employ world knowledge to draw scalar implicatures in numerals. For instance, in the context of 'an exceptionally hot summer', speakers will use their knowledge of average summer temperatures and record temperatures to construct a range of potential values. However, it is not clear how they do so when they do not have strong expectations or context is less informative. 1270 adult American English native speakers were shown short dialogues and stories containing numerals modified by 'more than' and 'fewer than,' and were asked to estimate the range of potential values and to name the potential value they thought was most likely. Results show the most likely value follows a Weber fraction relative to the numeral's order of magnitude and preferences for certain boundaries of the range shift according to a similar Weber fraction. The similarity between the Weber fractions found and the acuity of the approximate number system (ANS) suggests that the ANS bootstraps scalar implicature in comparatively modified numerals whenever context is not informative enough to refine experiential beliefs about the range and likelihood of potential values. Contrary to previous findings, roundness of the modified numeral does not play a crucial role.