Exploring the connection between Question Under Discussion and scalar diversity

Bibliographic Data

ID22159178
AuthorsEszter Ronai (0000-0003-1578-0938, University of Chicago), Ming Xiang (0000-0001-8453-2124, University of Chicago)
Year2021
Volume6
Issue1
Pages649
Publication date2021-03-20
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueProceedings of the Linguistic Society of America (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2473-8689 • E-ISSN: 2473-8689
PublisherLinguistic Society of America (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.3765/plsa.v6i1.5001
OpenAlexW3135924127
LanguageEN
Citations received7
References cited8

Previous research has revealed that different scalar expressions give rise to scalar inferences (SIs) at different rates. This variation has been termed scalar diversity. In this study, we investigate the role of Questions Under Discussion (QUDs) in explaining this variation in SI rates. Investigating 43 different scalar expressions, we first show that explicit QUDs robustly affect calculation rates: questions based on the stronger of two scalar terms lead to higher SI rates than questions promoting the weaker one. Second, we explore whether the likelihood of asking the stronger question in general (Question Availability) can explain the scalar diversity effect. Our results suggest that Question Availability is indeed a predictor of scalar diversity, but only for scales where both terms denote intervals (unbounded scales), and not for scales where the stronger member has a fixed meaning (bounded scales)

Bounded function · Econometrics · Epistemology · Geometry · Mathematical analysis · Pure mathematics · Education and Critical Thinking Development · Expert finding and Q&A systems · Mathematics · Philosophy · Psychology · Topic Modeling

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