ABSTRACT
Sentences frequently convey more information than they explicitly contain. For instance, suppose a speaker uses a noun phrase (NP) modified by an adjective, as in “the tall cup.” In this situation, perceivers infer the existence of two sets of entities in the discourse: (1) a target set corresponding to the literal denotation of the expression (e.g., a tall cup), and (2) a contrast set containing an object matching the noun, but differing by virtue of the property expressed by the adjective (e.g., a short cup). Evidence for the latter inference comes from monitoring perceiver eye-movements as they listen to spoken instructions. In particular, in the presence of a contrasting object, individuals identify target objects faster and make fewer spurious looks to competitors that share the adjectival property (e.g, a tall pitcher) (Sedivy, et al, 1999). These effects can be observed within two hundred ms of the onset of the head noun.
