Presuppositions among friends
A proper model for discourse processing reckons with the strategies of all agents involved in
the discourse. We illustrate this for the case of presupposition. Most approaches (cf. [1]) take ijnto account
just one strategy for discourse interpretation of only one of the agents: the hearer. But an analysis of
presuppositions in discourse should include all agents. Furthermore, different discourse
strategies have to be considered: in case of presupposition failure an agent can choose between accommodating and
objecting, or she can simply ignore the problem. The notion of a(n optimal) discourse strategy for a discourse
situation suggests itself.
The paper gives a first formalisation of these concepts. Even this first formalisation already is revealing: in an
example we show how the formal model brings out the relevant distinctions.
Kees Vermeulen and Heleen Hoekstra