Beteiligte: | , , |
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In: | Mind & Language, 33, 2018, 5, S. 460-479 |
veröffentlicht: |
Wiley
|
Medientyp: | Artikel, E-Artikel |
Umfang: | 460-479 |
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ISSN: |
0268-1064
1468-0017 |
DOI: | 10.1111/mila.12184 |
veröffentlicht in: | Mind & Language |
Sprache: | Englisch |
Schlagwörter: | |
Kollektion: | Wiley (CrossRef) |
<jats:p>We present an investigation of the ways in which speakers' subjective perspectives are likely to affect the meaning of gradable adjectives like <jats:italic>tall</jats:italic> or <jats:italic>heavy</jats:italic>. We present the results of a study showing that people tend to use themselves as a yardstick when ascribing these adjectives to human figures of varied measurements: subjects' height and weight requirements for applying <jats:italic>tall</jats:italic> and <jats:italic>heavy</jats:italic> are found to be positively correlated with their personal measurements. We draw more general lessons regarding the definition of subjectivity and the ways in which a standard of comparison and a significant deviation from that standard are specified.</jats:p> |