Empirical Methods for Investigating Definiteness (with Jon Stevens)
A series of eye-tracking experiments aimed at understanding the online interpretation of definites in referrring expressions and how this maps on to the notion of focality.The Evolution of Pragmatic Principles (with Robin Clark)
Simulations of the conditions under which pragmatic principles might arise in a population of agents with non-aligned preferences playing a signaling game. Model written in Netlogo, extensible to any number of types, messages actions.Questions of Politeness (with Jason Quinley)
An analysis of the use of modals in requests as a reflection of the structure of different games that interlocutors are playing.Signaling and Mergers
An analysis of the cognitive and social factors affecting the low-back merger using signaling games and network theory.