On the context dependence of artifact noun interpretation

Abstract

The context dependence of artifact noun category boundaries is underexplored relative to interpretational context dependence in other linguistic domains (e.g., gradable adjectives). Taking inspiration from a normative debate over the role of context in legal interpretation (in particular, the role of legislators’ policy goals), we show experimentally that contextual information as to a rule’s purpose systematically modulates interpreter beliefs about the category boundaries of artifact nouns contained within the rule. We propose a Bayesian pragmatic model of the context-dependent resolution of artifact noun extensions, which we compare against context-independent baselines. Our experimental and modeling results suggest the need for an explicitly context-sensitive, multi-dimensional degree semantics for artifact nouns.