COORDINATING BELIEFS IN CONVERSATION

We show that participants in conversation develop beliefs about shared information that others do not. So-called directors talked with two partners in succession (A and B) to arrange unusual figures. Directors went from long, indefinite descriptions of the figures to short, definite references as common ground was built up with A. When B had been a silent side participant in the first conversation, directors continued to use short references when they changed partners. References became less efficient when B had not been a participant-even when B had heard the first conversation and seen the figures. When B had only heard the first conversation, he or she was treated much the same as a completely naive partner. Apparently, conversation provides preferred evidence for coordinating beliefs about shared information. © 1992.