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Recognizing communicative intentions in infancy (2010)
| Venue: | Mind & Language |
| Citations: | 21 - 1 self |
BibTeX
@ARTICLE{Csibra10recognizingcommunicative,
author = {Gergely Csibra},
title = {Recognizing communicative intentions in infancy},
journal = {Mind & Language},
year = {2010},
pages = {141--168}
}
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Abstract
Abstract: I make three related proposals concerning the development of receptive communication in human infants. First, I propose that the presence of communicative intentions can be recognized in others ’ behaviour before the content of these intentions is accessed or inferred. Second, I claim that such recognition can be achieved by decoding specialized ostensive signals. Third, I argue on empirical bases that, by decoding ostensive signals, human infants are capable of recognizing communicative intentions addressed to them. Thus, learning about actual modes of communication benefits from, and is guided by, infants ’ preparedness to detect infant-directed ostensive communication. 1. Ostensive Signals According to the Gricean analysis of meaning (1989), a communicative act intends to fulfil two (or perhaps three) intentions simultaneously. By producing the act, the communicator intends (1) to generate a certain response in the audience, (2) to let the audience recognize the intention specified in (1), and (3) to make the audience fulfil the first intention on the basis of fulfilling the second one. This analysis proposes that, unlike instrumental actions, which can normally be explained by
Keyphrases
communicative intention human infant ostensive signal gricean analysis communication benefit instrumental action infant-directed ostensive communication receptive communication second one empirical base specialized ostensive signal actual mode certain response first intention communicative act
