Language and Social Minds : The Semantics and Pragmatics of Intersubjectivity

"Combining theory from cognitive semantics and pragmatics, this book offers both a new model and a new usage-based method for the understanding of intersubjectivity, and how social cognition is expressed linguistically at different levels of complexity. Bringing together ideas from linguistics and Theory of Mind, Tantucci demonstrates the way in which speakers constantly monitor and project their interlocutor's reactions to what is being said, and sets out three distinct categories of social cognition in first language acquisition and language change. He also shows how this model can be applied in different settings and includes a range of examples from languages across the globe, to demonstrate the cross-linguistic universality of the model. Additionally the book offers insights into the gradient dimension of intersubjectivity in language evolution and across the autistic spectrum. Original and innovative, it will be invaluable for researchers in cognitive linguistics, pragmatics, historical linguistics, applied linguistics and cognitive psychology"-- Provided by publisher Part I 1 The Intersubjective Gradience Model: An Introduction 1.1 Defning Theory of Mind and Intersubjectivity 1.2 Intersubjective Gradience 1.3 From Co-actionality to Social Cognition 1.4 Limitations of Theory of Mind in Cognitive Psychology 1.5 Limitations of Intersubjectivity in Linguistics 1.6 Desiderata for a Gradience Approach to Theory of Mind and Intersubjectivity 1.7 Conclusions Part II 2 Intersubjective Gradience in Use: From Immediate to Extended Construals of Social Cognition 2.1 Co-actionality and Intersubjective Gradience 2.2 Immediate Intersubjectivity (I-I) 2.3 Extended Intersubjectivity (E-I) 2.4 Methods and Data 2.5 Conclusions 3 Social Cognition in a Usage-Based Model of Language Change: From Immediate (I-I) to Extended Intersubjecti!cation (E-I) 3.1 Intersubjecti!cation in World Languages 3.2 An Illustration of the Gradience Model: From I-I to E-I of !! gànma in Mandarin 3.3 Common-Sense Assertions: From I-I to E-I of [you don’t want X] in American English 3.4 Attention-Getting: From I-I to E-I of Believe It or Not in American English 3.5 Interpersonal Evidentiality: The Case of ! guo in Mandarin and Balkan-Type Systems 3.6 Expected Agreement: From I-I to E-I of ! ba in Mandarin 3.7 Pre-emptive Refusals: E-I of [there is no NP] in British English 3.8 Conclusions The Intersubjective Gradience Model Applied: From Immediate (I-I) to Extended Intersubjecti!cation (E-I) throughout Ontogeny 4.1 The Gradience Model as a Method in Theory of Mind Research 4.2 Opinion Elicitation and Mirativity of nikàn in Chinese Ontogeny 4.3 Interpersonal Evidentiality throughout Ontogeny: The Case of guo in Mandarin 4.4 E-I and Generic Reference: The Acquisition of Such 4.5 Conclusions Part III 5 Concluding Remarks: Intersubjective Gradience and the New Cognitive Turn in Pragmatics 5.1 Intersubjectivity as Schematic Representation of Human Interaction 5.2 Intersubjective Gradience in Autism 5.3 Summary References Index Combining ideas from cognitive semantics and pragmatics, this book shows how social cognition is expressed linguistically at differing levels of complexity. The model, which brings together theory of mind and intersubjectivity, will enrich the work of researchers in cognitive linguistics, pragmatics, applied linguistics and cognitive psychology.