Spatial communication systems across languages reflect universal action constraints

Kenny R. Coventry (), Harmen B. Gudde, Holger Diessel, Jacqueline Collier, Pedro Guijarro-Fuentes, Mila Vulchanova, Valentin Vulchanov, Emanuela Todisco, Maria Reile, Merlijn Breunesse, Helen Plado, Juergen Bohnemeyer, Raed Bsili, Michela Caldano, Rositsa Dekova, Katharine Donelson, Diana Forker, Yesol Park, Lekhnath Sharma Pathak, David Peeters, Gabriella Pizzuto, Baris Serhan, Linda Apse, Florian Hesse, Linh Hoang, Phuong Hoang, Yoko Igari, Keerthana Kapiley, Tamar Haupt-Khutsishvili, Sara Kolding, Katri Priiki, Ieva Mačiukaitytė, Vaisnavi Mohite, Tiina Nahkola, Sum Yi Tsoi, Stefan Williams, Shunei Yasuda, Angelo Cangelosi, Jon Andoni Duñabeitia, Ramesh Kumar Mishra, Roberta Rocca, Jurģis Šķilters, Mikkel Wallentin, Eglė Žilinskaitė-Šinkūnienė and Ozlem Durmaz Incel
Additional contact information
Kenny R. Coventry: University of East Anglia
Harmen B. Gudde: University of East Anglia
Holger Diessel: Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena
Jacqueline Collier: University of East Anglia
Pedro Guijarro-Fuentes: University of the Balearic Islands
Mila Vulchanova: Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Valentin Vulchanov: Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Emanuela Todisco: University of the Balearic Islands
Maria Reile: University of Tartu
Merlijn Breunesse: Leiden University
Helen Plado: University of Tartu
Juergen Bohnemeyer: University at Buffalo
Raed Bsili: Danieli Telerobot Srl
Michela Caldano: University of East Anglia
Rositsa Dekova: Paisii Hilendarski University of Plovdiv
Katharine Donelson: University of Nevada
Diana Forker: Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena
Yesol Park: ETH Zürich
Lekhnath Sharma Pathak: Tribhuvan University
David Peeters: Tilburg University
Gabriella Pizzuto: University of Liverpool
Baris Serhan: University of Manchester
Linda Apse: University of Latvia
Florian Hesse: Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena
Linh Hoang: Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena
Phuong Hoang: Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena
Yoko Igari: University of East Anglia
Keerthana Kapiley: University of Hyderabad
Tamar Haupt-Khutsishvili: Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena
Sara Kolding: Aarhus University
Katri Priiki: University of Turku
Ieva Mačiukaitytė: Vilnius University
Vaisnavi Mohite: University of Hyderabad
Tiina Nahkola: University of Tartu
Sum Yi Tsoi: University of East Anglia
Stefan Williams: Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Shunei Yasuda: University of East Anglia
Angelo Cangelosi: University of Manchester
Jon Andoni Duñabeitia: Universidad Antonio de Nebrija
Ramesh Kumar Mishra: University of Hyderabad
Roberta Rocca: Aarhus University
Jurģis Šķilters: University of Latvia
Mikkel Wallentin: Aarhus University
Eglė Žilinskaitė-Šinkūnienė: Vilnius University
Ozlem Durmaz Incel: Bogazici University

Nature Human Behaviour, 2023, vol. 7, issue 12, 2099-2110

Abstract: Abstract The extent to which languages share properties reflecting the non-linguistic constraints of the speakers who speak them is key to the debate regarding the relationship between language and cognition. A critical case is spatial communication, where it has been argued that semantic universals should exist, if anywhere. Here, using an experimental paradigm able to separate variation within a language from variation between languages, we tested the use of spatial demonstratives—the most fundamental and frequent spatial terms across languages. In n = 874 speakers across 29 languages, we show that speakers of all tested languages use spatial demonstratives as a function of being able to reach or act on an object being referred to. In some languages, the position of the addressee is also relevant in selecting between demonstrative forms. Commonalities and differences across languages in spatial communication can be understood in terms of universal constraints on action shaping spatial language and cognition.

Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1038/s41562-023-01697-4

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