On the first point, our results are consistent with the observation that Americans typically interpret "quite" more as an amplifier (quite good = ⬆️ good), while British speakers often read it as a downtoner (quite good = 🤷 moderately good).

We conducted three experiments examining how people interpret various modified statements like "I'm very concerned" across a range of scenarios. The series of experiments aimed to distinguish social factors (e.g. politeness) from semantic factors (e.g. modifying the strength of the statement).

🎤 "Your #CogSci presentation was quite good this year."

How flattered or offended will you be? The answer may depend on whether you speak British or American English 🇺🇸🇬🇧. Our new #CogSci2025 paper reveals systematic differences in how different cultures interpret the same words.