Davies, CN and Katsos, N (2016) Reference and Informativeness as cognitive processes in verbal communication. In: Rocci, A and de Saussure, L, (eds.) Verbal Communication. Handbooks of Communication Science . De Gruyter Mouton , Berlin , pp. 123-140. ISBN 978-3-11-025545-4
Abstract
Overspecification in reference is the provision of more information than is minimally required for a hearer to identify an intended referent, e.g. ‘the stripy bowl’ in the context of a single bowl. Since this kind of referring expression is not predicted by traditional accounts of reference, this chapter reviews research documenting the frequency of such expressions in various contexts. Drawing together recent empirical findings, it proposes reasons for overspecified reference from both the speaker’s and the addressee’s perspective. The pragmatic, cognitive and social significance of overspecification is discussed, and applications of research in this area are considered. We close by suggesting promising future directions for this strand of research.
Metadata
Item Type: | Book Section |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Editors: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2016 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston. This is an author produced version of a paper published in Verbal Communication. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. |
Keywords: | overspecification; pragmatics, informativity, referring expressions, language production |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures (Leeds) > School of Languages Cultures & Societies (Leeds) > Linguistics & Phonetics (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 06 Jun 2016 14:30 |
Last Modified: | 31 Mar 2017 00:38 |
Published Version: | http://www.degruyter.com/view/product/129323 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | De Gruyter Mouton |
Series Name: | Handbooks of Communication Science |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:99579 |