What is it about?
We explored the influence of relative pronouns WHO or THAT on attributions of humanness across four categories of entities (unnamed nonhuman animals, named animals, machines, and people). Participants responded relatively faster to human nature attributes than to uniquely human traits, and responded faster to named animals than to all other categories. Faster responses were also found for people-WHO pairings than people-THAT pairings, and vice versa for named nonhuman animals.
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Why is it important?
The study of language processes is important because humans communicate with each other primarily via the written and spoken word. The influence of language on behaviour can be subtle, but should not be ignored.
Perspectives
The study formed the basis for author Pang's Honours thesis so it is credit to her that she was able to manage a study involving a range of operational problems.
Denise Dillon
James Cook University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Deer Who Are Distant, Society and Animals, December 2017, Brill,
DOI: 10.1163/15685306-12341482.
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