ABSTRACT
One of the most social aspects of language use is the fact that it involves perspective taking. Take the use of a simple directive such as “Close the door.” Successful use of this expression will require the recipient to take the speaker’s perspective in order to recognize the intention (what speech act is being performed), what door is being referred to, whether the door should be shut right now or later, and so on. And the speaker must have some awareness of the perspective the recipient is likely to take if the utterance is to be understood as intended. In this regard language use is clearly a collective endeavor; one’s actions, and the meaning of those actions, are closely intertwined with the actions and interpretations of others.
