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{
    "pk": 49217,
    "title": "A Pragmatic Model of Spatial Language",
    "subtitle": null,
    "abstract": "Spatial language is an integral part of everyday communication, but existing theories fail to explain the cognitive processing underlying the interpretation of spatial descriptions. The traditional spatial template theory does not attempt to provide a mechanism behind the computation of acceptability ratings, nor does it adequately address the effect of distractors or the conversational context. In this study, we propose a new model of spatial pragmatics, based on the Rational Speech Act (RSA) framework. This Bayesian model shows how the patterns of spatial language understanding follow directly from the principles of pragmatics. Our model accounts for previously found effects of angle, distance, and distractors on acceptability ratings and indication behavior. We test these predictions in an experiment consisting of various tasks. The results largely support our model's predictions, suggesting that pragmatic reasoning might play a role in spatial language use.",
    "language": "eng",
    "license": {
        "name": "",
        "short_name": "",
        "text": null,
        "url": ""
    },
    "keywords": [
        {
            "word": "Language Comprehension; Language Production; Spatial cognition; Bayesian modeling; Computational Modeling"
        }
    ],
    "section": "Papers with Oral Presentation",
    "is_remote": true,
    "remote_url": "https://escholarship.org/uc/item/69v8f5r9",
    "frozenauthors": [
        {
            "first_name": "Midas",
            "middle_name": "",
            "last_name": "Vanooteghem",
            "name_suffix": "",
            "institution": "KULeuven",
            "department": ""
        },
        {
            "first_name": "Walter",
            "middle_name": "",
            "last_name": "Schaeken",
            "name_suffix": "",
            "institution": "KU Leuven",
            "department": ""
        }
    ],
    "date_submitted": null,
    "date_accepted": null,
    "date_published": "2025-01-01T11:00:00-07:00",
    "render_galley": null,
    "galleys": [
        {
            "label": "PDF",
            "type": "pdf",
            "path": "https://journalpub.escholarship.org/cognitivesciencesociety/article/49217/galley/37178/download/"
        },
        {
            "label": "PDF",
            "type": "pdf",
            "path": "https://journalpub.escholarship.org/cognitivesciencesociety/article/49217/galley/38723/download/"
        }
    ]
}