Objective
Human communication is built around interlocutors’ common ground (CG), or the information they assume to share. Despite having been the focus of intense interdisciplinary research for more than 60 years, we do not yet understand what the cognitive bases of CG are, nor how it works. This ERC project introduces an innovative approach that is essential to understanding CG: I propose to test and develop the first cultural evolutionary theory of CG. I argue that CG is a cognitive technology that emerges from the interaction of three cognitive capacities in a positive reinforcement cycle: joint attention, joint memory, and the use of reference systems.
The project has three ambitious objectives: [1] Develop a cultural evolutionary theory of CG that is cognitively sound and empirically testable. [2] Design new experimental methods with high ecological validity to investigate CG development in language acquisition and CG formation through social interaction. [3] Collect memory and multimodal language data from several cultures to identify universal features of CG development and formation, and cross-linguistic differences in CG management. These objectives will be addressed in four work packages: WPs 1-3 will employ cutting-edge methods to investigate CG development, formation, and management, while WP4 will focus on theoretical and computational modelling.
The key innovation in COMMON_GROUND is to immerse children and adults in shared experiences in order to investigate CG formation through naturalistic social interaction. Multimodal data will be recorded during these interactions to establish how joint attention and reference shape joint memory. Analyzing later conversations about these shared experiences will further allow us to investigate CG management across ages, languages, and cultures. These studies will be the first to advance our understanding of CG as a cognitive technology, informing diverse disciplines ranging from Philosophy to AI.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2025-ADG
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
80539 MUNCHEN
Germany
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.