Conventionality in Language Use - Understanding Speaker Intentions in Spoken Comprehension

Explore the intricacies of language comprehension in this thought-provoking lecture delivered by Dale J. Barr from the University of Glasgow. Delve into the complex process of how listeners interpret speakers' intended meanings, particularly focusing on references like "the small candle." Examine the interplay between linguistic conventions and situation-specific inferences in communication. Discover findings from experiments suggesting that language comprehension is geared towards understanding a generic speaker rather than specific individuals. Learn about the concept of attribute substitution and its role in generating situation-specific interpretations. Gain insights into topics such as Lewis conventions, common knowledge, the supervisor PhD paradox, privileged objects, visual eye tracking, lexical competition effects, cultural differences in communication, and perspective-taking.