Tight and loose are not created equal: An asymmetry underlying the representation of fit in English- and Korean-speakers

Heather M. Norbury*, Sandra R. Waxman, Hyun Joo Song

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

17 Scopus citations

Abstract

Research concerning the spatial dimension fit (tight versus loose) has been based on a tacit but untested assumption that the dimension fit is symmetrical, with tight- and loose-fitting relations highlighting the dimension fit with equal force. We propose a reformulation, documenting that adult speakers of English (Experiment 1) and Korean (Experiment 2) are sensitive to the dimension fit, but that their representation is asymmetric, with tight-fitting events highlighting fit with greater force than loose-fitting events. We propose that sensitivity to the dimension fit is more resilient than has previously been suggested, and that the asymmetry documented here provides a foundation upon which to pursue nuanced questions about the relationship between language and our underlying representations of space.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)316-325
Number of pages10
JournalCognition
Volume109
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2008

Keywords

  • Conceptual representation
  • Language and thought
  • Spatial representation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
  • Developmental and Educational Psychology
  • Cognitive Neuroscience
  • Language and Linguistics
  • Linguistics and Language

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