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Discourse context modulates the effect of implicit causality on rementions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 October 2018

EMIEL VAN DEN HOVEN Open the ORCID record for EMIEL VAN DEN HOVEN [Opens in a new window]  and
EVELYN C. FERSTL
EMIEL VAN DEN HOVEN*
Affiliation:
Center for Cognitive Science, University of Freiburg
EVELYN C. FERSTL
Affiliation:
Center for Cognitive Science, University of Freiburg
*
†Address for correspondence: Emiel van den Hoven, DFG GRK 1624 “Frequency Effects in Language”, Belfortstraße 18, 79098 Freiburg, Germany. e-mail: emiel.vandenhoven@frequenz.uni-freiburg.de
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Abstract

Certain verbs tend to elicit explanations about either their subject or their object. The tendency for one of the verb’s arguments to be rementioned in explanations is known as the implicit causality bias. In this paper we investigate the conditions underlying implicit causality remention biases by means of sentence and story completion studies. On one account of implicit causality, remention biases are the product of a combination of a particular lexico-semantic structure with a causal coherence relation. According to a competing account, the biases arise from a perceived lack of information in the discourse, and thus depend on knowledge about the world and the discourse context. To distinguish between the two accounts, it first needs to be established that information that potentially competes with implicit causality, such as relevant information from the discourse context, can reliably influence remention biases. We provide evidence that a violation of implicit assumptions underlying the standard use of implicit causality verbs leads to different inferences, and an alteration of the remention bias. We thereby lay the groundwork for future studies to distinguish between the two accounts.

Keywords

implicit causalitysentence continuationstory continuationdiscourse context
Type
Article
Information
Language and Cognition , Volume 10 , Issue 4 , December 2018 , pp. 561 - 594
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Copyright
Copyright © UK Cognitive Linguistics Association 2018 

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Footnotes

*

We thank Lukas Diestel for assistance in the creation of the stimuli, and Anne Mickan, Lars Konieczny, Adele Goldberg, and Anne Cutler for helpful discussion at various stages of the project.

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