ISSN:
1430-2772
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Psychology
Notes:
Summary The speaker can encode one and the same object S in variable ways in order to enable a listener to identify this particular object. It can be demonstrated that, among other things, the labeling of S depends on the context objects SC that are presented with S, and with which S may be confused. Generally, speakers label the one feature of S which, within a given context, exclusively refers to S and not to any other object SC. If there are several features coinciding with this condition (multiple codability), (1) the labeling covaries with the discriminability of S: the feature which is labeled is that which permits the best subjective discrimination of S as opposed to SC; (2) the labeling covaries with the dimensional preference of the speaker in case the best discrimination proves impossible: the feature of S which is labeled is that which the speaker prefers as a result of his learning history. These theoretical assumptions listed above are investigated in two independent experiments (subjects: N=110 children; experimental material: geometric figures). The results largely confirm the theoretical considerations.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00309041
Permalink
