Words Speak Louder Than Actions: Understanding Deliberately False Remarks

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Abstract
The ability in 6-, 9- and 13-yr-olds and adults to understand sincere, deceptive and sarcastic remarks was investigated. Remarks of each type were constructed by varying evidence for the speaker''s belief and communicative purpose (what the speaker wants the listener to believe). As hypothesized, 3 steps in understanding were documented. First, children tended to interpret all remarks as sincere; they assumed that the speaker''s belief and purpose were in line with his statement. At ages 9 and 13, children appreciate deliberate falsehood but tended to see all false remarks as deceptive: they appreciated that the speaker''s statement may be intentionally discrepant from his belief, but not from his purpose. Finally, adults identified sarcasm with some frequency: they recognized that the speaker''s belief and purpose may both be out of line with his statement. The role of evidence of discriminate speaker belief and purpose was discussed.

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