Repository logo
 

Where next for pragmatics and mind reading? A situation-based view (response to kissine)

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

No Thumbnail Available

Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Andrés-Roqueta, C 

Abstract

Our commentary is mainly concerned with Kissine’s first argument, that mind-reading is not necessarily needed for pragmatics. We fully agree with Kissine, and we present (i) additional recent empirical evidence in support of this view, and (ii) a new model of pragmatics and mind-reading, based on the situation of language use rather than the type of pragmatic phenomenon that is instantiated. The last part of our commentary concerns the logical validity of Kissine’s argument, taking into account important concepts in autism research such as heterogeneity, equifinality, and neurodiversity, but also evaluating how relevant the empirical evidence from learning language from TV is to the debate on nativism vs constructivism. We conclude there is much to love (as regards pragmatics) and some to query (as regards the conclusions we can draw about nativism vs constructivism) in this timely and thought-provoking Perspective article.

Description

Keywords

pragmatics, mind reading, autistic spectrum disorders (ASD), developmental language disorder (DLD), theory of mind (ToM), structural language

Journal Title

Language

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0097-8507
1535-0665

Volume Title

97

Publisher

Project MUSE

Rights

All rights reserved