Indirect speech acts in high functioning autism

Greta Mazzaggio (Author), Simona Di Paola (Author), Eleonora Marocchini (Author), Filippo Domaneschi (Author)

Abstract

Few works have addressed the processing of indirect requests in High-Functioning Autism (HFA), and results are conflicting. Some studies report HFA individuals’ difficulties in indirect requests comprehension; others suggest that it might be preserved in HFA. Furthermore, the role of Theory of Mind in understanding indirect requests is an open issue. The goal of this work is twofold: first, assessing whether comprehension of indirect requests for information is preserved in HFA; second, explor- ing whether mind-reading skills predict this ability. We tested a group of (n = 14; 9–12 years) HFA children and two groups of younger (n = 19; 5–6 years) and older (n = 28; 9–12 years) typically developing (TD) children in a semi-structured task involving direct, indirect and highly indirect requests for information. Results suggested that HFA can understand indirect and highly indirect requests, as well as TD children. Yet, while Theory of Mind skills seem to enhance older TD children under- standing, this is not the case for HFA children. Therefore, interestingly, they could rely on different interpretative strategies

Keywords

indirect speech act;indirect requests;theory of mind;autism developmental disorders;experimental pragmatics;

Data

Language:	English
Year of publishing:	2019
Typology:	1.12 - Published Scientific Conference Contribution Abstract
Organization:	UNG - University of Nova Gorica
UDC:	81
COBISS:	77391107
Views:	1091
Downloads:	42
Average score:	0 (0 votes)
Metadata:

Other data

URN:	URN:SI:UNG
Pages:	Str. 1-3
ID:	13377319