The role of gaze and the semantics of demonstratives in referent selection

Crystal H. Y. Chen; Lyn Tieu; Ana T. Pérez-Leroux

doi:10.4230/LIPIcs.COSIT.2024.20

The role of gaze and the semantics of demonstratives in referent selection

Crystal H. Y. Chen
, Lyn Tieu
, Ana T. Pérez-Leroux

University of Toronto

Research output: Chapter in Book / Conference Paper › Conference Paper › peer-review

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Abstract

Demonstratives (this/that) situate objects in space with the aid of gestures and a proximal-distal contrast. However, it is unclear how these cues interact to aid the listener in referent selection. The current paper presents a referent selection task where listeners choose an object out of a group of objects based on a physical and verbal cue provided by a speaker. Results indicate that listeners are sensitive to a variety of cues, but only integrate the minimum amount of information necessary for referent selection, with physical cues being prioritized over the semantic contributions of the demonstrative.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	16th International Conference on Spatial Information Theory: COSIT 2024, September 17–20, 2024, Québec City, Canada
Editors	Benjamin Adams, Amy L. Griffin, Simon Scheider, Grant McKenzie
Place of Publication	Germany
Publisher	Schloss Dagstuhl - Leibniz-Zentrum fuer Informatik GmbH
Pages	20:1–20:8
Number of pages	8
ISBN (Electronic)	9783959773300
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.4230/LIPIcs.COSIT.2024.20
Publication status	Published - Sept 2024
Event	International Conference on Spatial Information Theory - Québec, Canada Duration: 17 Sept 2024 → 20 Sept 2024 Conference number: 16th

Publication series

Name	Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics, LIPIcs
Volume	315
ISSN (Print)	1868-8969

Conference

Conference	International Conference on Spatial Information Theory
Abbreviated title	COSIT
Country/Territory	Canada
City	Québec
Period	17/09/24 → 20/09/24

Keywords

deixis
Demonstratives
experimental semantics
gesture
joint attention coordination
proximal-distal contrast
referent distance
referent selection
spatial language
Gesture recognition
Deixis
Demonstrative
Experimental semantic
Gesture
Joint attention
Joint attention coordination
Proximal-distal contrast
Referent distance
Referent selection
Spatial language
Semantics

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full textFinal published version, 627 KBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

Chen, C. H. Y., Tieu, L., & Pérez-Leroux, A. T. (2024). The role of gaze and the semantics of demonstratives in referent selection. In B. Adams, A. L. Griffin, S. Scheider, & G. McKenzie (Eds.), 16th International Conference on Spatial Information Theory: COSIT 2024, September 17–20, 2024, Québec City, Canada (pp. 20:1–20:8). (Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics, LIPIcs; Vol. 315). Schloss Dagstuhl - Leibniz-Zentrum fuer Informatik GmbH. https://doi.org/10.4230/LIPIcs.COSIT.2024.20

Chen, Crystal H. Y. ; Tieu, Lyn ; Pérez-Leroux, Ana T. / The role of gaze and the semantics of demonstratives in referent selection. 16th International Conference on Spatial Information Theory: COSIT 2024, September 17–20, 2024, Québec City, Canada. editor / Benjamin Adams ; Amy L. Griffin ; Simon Scheider ; Grant McKenzie. Germany : Schloss Dagstuhl - Leibniz-Zentrum fuer Informatik GmbH, 2024. pp. 20:1–20:8 (Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics, LIPIcs).

@inproceedings{f6c146ed5511489582842d994290b198,

title = "The role of gaze and the semantics of demonstratives in referent selection",

abstract = "Demonstratives (this/that) situate objects in space with the aid of gestures and a proximal-distal contrast. However, it is unclear how these cues interact to aid the listener in referent selection. The current paper presents a referent selection task where listeners choose an object out of a group of objects based on a physical and verbal cue provided by a speaker. Results indicate that listeners are sensitive to a variety of cues, but only integrate the minimum amount of information necessary for referent selection, with physical cues being prioritized over the semantic contributions of the demonstrative.",

keywords = "deixis, Demonstratives, experimental semantics, gesture, joint attention coordination, proximal-distal contrast, referent distance, referent selection, spatial language, Gesture recognition, Deixis, Demonstrative, Experimental semantic, Gesture, Joint attention, Joint attention coordination, Proximal-distal contrast, Referent distance, Referent selection, Spatial language, Semantics",

author = "Chen, \{Crystal H. Y.\} and Lyn Tieu and P{\'e}rez-Leroux, \{Ana T.\}",

year = "2024",

month = sep,

doi = "10.4230/LIPIcs.COSIT.2024.20",

language = "English",

series = "Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics, LIPIcs",

publisher = "Schloss Dagstuhl - Leibniz-Zentrum fuer Informatik GmbH",

pages = "20:1{\textendash}20:8",

editor = "Benjamin Adams and Griffin, \{Amy L.\} and Simon Scheider and Grant McKenzie",

booktitle = "16th International Conference on Spatial Information Theory: COSIT 2024, September 17{\textendash}20, 2024, Qu{\'e}bec City, Canada",

note = "International Conference on Spatial Information Theory, COSIT ; Conference date: 17-09-2024 Through 20-09-2024",

}

Chen, CHY, Tieu, L & Pérez-Leroux, AT 2024, The role of gaze and the semantics of demonstratives in referent selection. in B Adams, AL Griffin, S Scheider & G McKenzie (eds), 16th International Conference on Spatial Information Theory: COSIT 2024, September 17–20, 2024, Québec City, Canada. Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics, LIPIcs, vol. 315, Schloss Dagstuhl - Leibniz-Zentrum fuer Informatik GmbH, Germany, pp. 20:1–20:8, International Conference on Spatial Information Theory, Québec, Canada, 17/09/24. https://doi.org/10.4230/LIPIcs.COSIT.2024.20

The role of gaze and the semantics of demonstratives in referent selection. / Chen, Crystal H. Y.; Tieu, Lyn; Pérez-Leroux, Ana T.
16th International Conference on Spatial Information Theory: COSIT 2024, September 17–20, 2024, Québec City, Canada. ed. / Benjamin Adams; Amy L. Griffin; Simon Scheider; Grant McKenzie. Germany: Schloss Dagstuhl - Leibniz-Zentrum fuer Informatik GmbH, 2024. p. 20:1–20:8 (Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics, LIPIcs; Vol. 315).

Research output: Chapter in Book / Conference Paper › Conference Paper › peer-review

TY - GEN

T1 - The role of gaze and the semantics of demonstratives in referent selection

AU - Chen, Crystal H. Y.

AU - Tieu, Lyn

AU - Pérez-Leroux, Ana T.

N1 - Conference code: 16th

PY - 2024/9

Y1 - 2024/9

N2 - Demonstratives (this/that) situate objects in space with the aid of gestures and a proximal-distal contrast. However, it is unclear how these cues interact to aid the listener in referent selection. The current paper presents a referent selection task where listeners choose an object out of a group of objects based on a physical and verbal cue provided by a speaker. Results indicate that listeners are sensitive to a variety of cues, but only integrate the minimum amount of information necessary for referent selection, with physical cues being prioritized over the semantic contributions of the demonstrative.

AB - Demonstratives (this/that) situate objects in space with the aid of gestures and a proximal-distal contrast. However, it is unclear how these cues interact to aid the listener in referent selection. The current paper presents a referent selection task where listeners choose an object out of a group of objects based on a physical and verbal cue provided by a speaker. Results indicate that listeners are sensitive to a variety of cues, but only integrate the minimum amount of information necessary for referent selection, with physical cues being prioritized over the semantic contributions of the demonstrative.

KW - deixis

KW - Demonstratives

KW - experimental semantics

KW - gesture

KW - joint attention coordination

KW - proximal-distal contrast

KW - referent distance

KW - referent selection

KW - spatial language

KW - Gesture recognition

KW - Deixis

KW - Demonstrative

KW - Experimental semantic

KW - Gesture

KW - Joint attention

KW - Joint attention coordination

KW - Proximal-distal contrast

KW - Referent distance

KW - Referent selection

KW - Spatial language

KW - Semantics

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85205756721

U2 - 10.4230/LIPIcs.COSIT.2024.20

DO - 10.4230/LIPIcs.COSIT.2024.20

M3 - Conference Paper

T3 - Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics, LIPIcs

SP - 20:1–20:8

BT - 16th International Conference on Spatial Information Theory: COSIT 2024, September 17–20, 2024, Québec City, Canada

A2 - Adams, Benjamin

A2 - Griffin, Amy L.

A2 - Scheider, Simon

A2 - McKenzie, Grant

PB - Schloss Dagstuhl - Leibniz-Zentrum fuer Informatik GmbH

CY - Germany

T2 - International Conference on Spatial Information Theory

Y2 - 17 September 2024 through 20 September 2024

ER -

Chen CHY, Tieu L, Pérez-Leroux AT. The role of gaze and the semantics of demonstratives in referent selection. In Adams B, Griffin AL, Scheider S, McKenzie G, editors, 16th International Conference on Spatial Information Theory: COSIT 2024, September 17–20, 2024, Québec City, Canada. Germany: Schloss Dagstuhl - Leibniz-Zentrum fuer Informatik GmbH. 2024. p. 20:1–20:8. (Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics, LIPIcs). doi: 10.4230/LIPIcs.COSIT.2024.20

The role of gaze and the semantics of demonstratives in referent selection

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