Understanding scalar implicature without scale markers SOME and ALL in Japanese preschoolers and adults
- Tetsuya Yasuda, Tokyo Denki University, Saitama prefecture, Japan
- Harumi Kobayashi, Tokyo Denki University, Saitama prefecture, Japan
AbstractUnderstanding “Some girls have bags” is difficult for preschoolers, because they may not properly calculate scalar implicature. In this study, we examined whether preschoolers and adults guess scalar information without scale markers (some, all) using negative/positive Japanese sentences in picture selection task. This task consisted of three cards, e.g., SOME card illustrated two persons with a bag and four persons without a bag. The results were that the positive expression, “Baggu wo motte-‘iru’ hito ga imasu” (there are persons ‘with’ a bag), was guessed as meaning of ALL (all persons have a bag) by children, while guessed as SOME by adults. Interestingly, the negative expression, “Baggu wo motte-‘inai’ hito ga imasu” (there are persons ‘without’ a bag), was guessed as NONE by children, but guessed as SOME by adults. The results suggest children may not utilize the combination of existence and agent’s state information to guess scalar implicature.