How do English and Turkish speakers use language to talk about hidden objects?

Description

How do English and Turkish speakers use language to talk about hidden objects?

Built with Experiment

This study investigates how adult native speakers of Turkish and English express their beliefs when reasoning about hidden objects. Specifically, it examines how the strength of available evidence influences the choice of belief-related language, with the broader goal of understanding how speakers of different languages reflect certainty in their everyday expressions.

Participants are shown a series of short visual scenarios (e.g., simple images) in which an object is hidden in one of two possible locations. Each scenario is designed to convey a different level of evidence about the location of a hidden object:

No evidence - no visual or contextual clue
Weak evidence - indirect or ambiguous clue
Strong evidence - clear and direct clue

Participants are first asked to select one of two possible locations depicted in the visual scenario. For instance, if the hidden object is a cat, it may be hidden either behind the "bushes" or the "rocks". Based on the level of evidence provided in each scenario - ranging from no evidence to weak or strong evidence - participants indicate their perspective on where the hidden object may be located by choosing one of the two locations.

Following this initial choice, participants are prompted to describe the situation by selecting the belief expression that best reflects their level of certainty. The response options are drawn from a fixed set of belief-related utterances: in my opinion, think, and know.

If they choose "bushes":

a. In my opinion the cat is behind the bushes. b. I think the cat is behind the bushes. c. I know the cat is behind the bushes.

If they choose "rocks":

a. In my opinion the cat is behind the rocks. b. I think the cat is behind the rocks. c. I know the cat is behind the rocks.

By comparing the distribution of these expressions across evidence conditions and language groups, the study aims to reveal how belief expression is shaped both by the degree of evidential support across these two languages.

The central research question of this study is:

Do Turkish and English speakers differ in how they express beliefs depending on the strength of the evidence available to them?

Expected Patterns

Within the Turkish-speaking group:

H1: In the no evidence condition, in my opinion will be preferred over think and know. H2: In the weak evidence condition, think will be preferred over in my opinion and know. H3: In the strong evidence condition, know will be preferred over think.

Within the English-speaking group:

H4: In the no evidence condition, think or know will be preferred over in my opinion. H5: In the weak evidence condition, think will be preferred over know. H6: In the strong evidence condition, know will be preferred over think.

Between-group comparisons:

H7: In the no evidence condition, Turkish speakers will prefer in my opinion more than English speakers. H8: In the weak evidence condition, no significant difference is expected between Turkish and English speakers in their preference for think. H9: In the strong evidence condition, English speakers are expected to prefer think more than Turkish speakers. H10: In the strong evidence condition, Turkish speakers are expected to prefer know more than English speakers.