Georg Jahn and Lara Webber:
Aligning with a Ghost: Perspective, Belief,
and Function in Spatial Reasoning
Abstract
In this paper we argue that the study of people’s comprehension of assertions
in spatial reasoning adds to the understanding of spatial dialogue. We review
evidence from recent studies that demonstrate the role of alignment in spatial
reasoning. In particular we discuss how comprehension of non-projective prepositions,
such as between, is modulated by perspective, and by a culturally determined
scanning bias. In addition we examine the role belief and function play in
spatial reasoning. The effect of believability is determined by problem difficulty,
people rely on prior beliefs when multiple interpretations of the assertions
are possible. Whereas, the effect of functional knowledge on comprehension
and on reasoning is predominantly context-dependent.
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