Language Processing Differences Between Blind and Sighted Individuals and the Abstract Versus Concrete Concept Difference

• Published in: Cognitive science Vol. 45; no. 10; pp. e13044 - n/a
• Main Authors: Canessa, Enrique, Chaigneau, Sergio E., Moreno, Sebastián
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley 01.10.2021; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Abstract concepts; Abstract Reasoning; Blind subjects; Concept Formation; Concrete concepts; Language Processing; Mathematical models; Semantics; Sighted subjects; Visual Impairments
• ISSN: 0364-0213; 1551-6709; 1551-6709
• DOI: 10.1111/cogs.13044

In the property listing task (PLT), participants are asked to list properties for a concept (e.g., for the concept dog, “barks,” and “is a pet” may be produced). In conceptual property norming (CPNs) studies, participants are asked to list properties for large sets of concepts. Here, we use a mathematical model of the property listing process to explore two longstanding issues: characterizing the difference between concrete and concepts, and characterizing semantic knowledge in the blind versus sighted population. When we apply our mathematical model to a large CPN reporting properties listed by sighted and blind participants, the model uncovers significant differences between concrete and concepts. Though we also find that blind individuals show many of the same processing differences between and concrete concepts found in sighted individuals, our model shows that those differences are noticeably less pronounced than in sighted individuals. We discuss our results vis‐a‐vis theories attempting to characterize concepts.