In this research we investigated the role of context in interpretation (Experiments 1 and 2) relative processing (Experiment 3) literal ironic statements. As such, manipulated degree situational negativity (using strongly negative, weakly neutral contexts) found that, negative situations, reading times for statements were slower than statements, whereas situations faster or equivalent to When these time data related data, that differences could be predicted by certain aspects interpretation....

Verbal irony is nonliteral language that makes salient a discrepancy between expectations and reality. For researchers who study verbal irony, critical question is: How do we grasp the meaning of ironic language? The parallel-constraint-satisfaction approach holds promise as an answer to this question. By account, multiple cues intent, such tone voice, incongruity, knowledge speaker, are processed rapidly in parallel information coordinated with utterance itself order construct coherent...

There is considerable evidence (e.g., Pexman, Hargreaves, Siakaluk, Bodner, & Pope, 2008) that semantically rich words, which are associated with relatively more semantic information, recognized faster across different lexical processing tasks. The present study extends this earlier work by providing the most comprehensive evaluation to date of richness effects on visual word recognition performance. Specifically, using regression analyses control for influence correlated variables, we...

There is much empirical evidence that words' relative imageability and body-object interaction (BOI) facilitate lexical processing for concrete nouns (e.g., Bennett, Burnett, Siakaluk, & Pexman, 2011). These findings are consistent with a grounded cognition framework Barsalou, 2008), in which sensorimotor knowledge integral to processing. In the present study, we examined whether also sensitive dimension of emotional experience (i.e., ease words evoke experience), derived from framework. We...

It has been proposed that social experience plays an important role in the grounding of concepts, and socialness proffered as a fundamental organisational principle underpinning semantic representation human brain. However, empirical support for these hypotheses is limited by inconsistencies way defined measured. To further advance theory, field must establish clearer working definition, research efforts could be facilitated availability extensive set ratings individual concepts. Therefore,...

Multiple representation theories posit that concepts are represented via a combination of properties derived from sensorimotor, affective, and linguistic experiences. Recently, it has been proposed information social experience, or socialness, represents another key aspect conceptual representation. How these various dimensions interact to form coherent space yet be fully explored. To address this, we capitalized on openly available word property norms for 6339 words conducted large-scale...

Verbal irony can serve many social functions: Speakers mute the aggression conveyed by criticism or temper praise a compliment (the Tinge Hypothesis; Dews, Kaplan, & Winner, 1995), and speakers also bring humor to situation. A full understanding of ironic language requires one make complex inferences about speaker intent, task that be challenging for children. This study was devised as developmental test Hypothesis. Two experiments assessed 5- 6- 7- 8-year-old children's abilities detect...

Common ground between speaker and addressee is thought to be important comprehension of verbal irony (e.g., Gibbs, 1986). We investigated the effects one type common (solidary relationships, which are close, liking, mutually supportive) on production interpretation ironic insults compliments. The relationship manipulation vs. nonsolidary) influenced participants' ratings several pragmatic functions irony, including humor teasing. This was particularly compliments less insults. argue that a...

Abstract In previous research, there have been inconsistent findings regarding interpretation of ironic insults. Colston (1997) reported that irony enhances the criticism conveyed by a more direct insult, but Dews and Winner (1995; Dews, Kaplan & Winner, 1995) mutes insult. this study we examined possibility perception insults depends on whether participants were asked to judge speaker intent (e.g., mocking) or social impression politeness). Results supported because perceived be mocking,...

In this article, ambiguity and synonymy effects were examined in lexical decision, naming, semantic categorization tasks. Whereas the typical advantage was observed decision an disadvantage categorization. addition, a effect (slower latencies for words with many synonyms than few synonyms) naming but not These results suggest that (a) arises only when task requires processing, (b) are due to feedback, (c) these determined by nature of feedback relationships from semantics orthography phonology.

In some contexts, concrete words (CARROT) are recognized and remembered more readily than abstract (TRUTH). This concreteness effect has historically been explained by two theories of semantic representation: dual-coding [Paivio, A. Dual coding theory: Retrospect current status. Canadian Journal Psychology, 45, 255-287, 1991] context-availability [Schwanenflugel, P. J. Why concepts hard to understand? Schwanenflugel (Ed.), The psychology word meanings (pp. 223-250). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum,...

Statements such as "children are precious gems" can be interpreted either a metaphor (children valuable) or sarcastic comment on the burden). Katz and Pexman (1997) identified several constraints that biased readers toward metaphoric sarcastic-ironic interpretation: nature (occupation) of person making statement, whether statement was counterfactual to information in preceding discourse context, root instantiated familiar. In this experiment we investigated these would used online during...

The role of phonology in word recognition was investigated 6 lexical-decision experiments involving homophones (e.g., MAID-MADE). authors' goal to determine whether homophone effects arise the task and, if so, what situations they arise, with a specific focus on question presence pseudohomophone foils BRANE) causes be eliminated because strategic deemphasis phonological processing. All showed significant effects, which were not by foils. authors propose that lexical decision are due nature...