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Frames of reference in vision and language: where is above?
L A Carlson-Radvansky1, D E Irwin
1Department of Psychology, Michigan State University, East Lansing 48824.
Cognition
|March 1, 1993
Summary
Spatial terms like "above" rely on reference frames. This study found "above" primarily uses environment-centered frames, with object-centered frames also contributing, but not viewer-centered frames.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Linguistics
- Spatial Cognition
Background:
- Spatial language, such as
- above
- requires a frame of reference for interpretation.
- Previous research has explored viewer-centered, environment-centered, and object-centered frames for spatial terms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the reference frames used in comprehending and producing the spatial term
- above
- .
- To determine the independent contributions of viewer-centered (deictic), environment-centered (extrinsic), and object-centered (intrinsic) reference frames.
Main Methods:
- Four experiments were conducted, manipulating perceptual cues for verticality.
- Participants
- comprehension and production of
- above
- were analyzed.
Main Results:
- The spatial term
- above
- was predominantly interpreted using an environment-centered reference frame.
- Object-centered reference frames also significantly contributed to the interpretation of
- above
- .
- A viewer-centered reference frame did not make an independent contribution to the use or understanding of
- above
- .
Conclusions:
- The meaning of
- above
- does not inherently specify a single reference frame.
- The selection of a reference frame during spatial assignment dictates how terms like
- above
- and
- below
- are used and understood.