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The person-machine confrontation: Investigations into the pragmatics of dialogism

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Abstract

Erroneously attributing propositional attitudes (desires, beliefs...) to computational artefacts has become internationally commonplace in the public arena, especially amongst the new generation of non-initiated users. Technology for rendering machines “user-friendly” is often inspired by interpersonal human communication. This calls forth designers to conceptualise a major component of human intelligence: the sense ofcommunicability, and its logical consequences. The inherentincommunicability of machines subsequently causes a shift in design strategy. Though cataloguing components of bouts between person and machine with Speech Act Theory has been popular, I will endeavour to present thesine qua non for their insertion into a larger unit of discourse — their societal embodiment. I shall argue that the so-called “intelligence” of the artificial should to be seenas a purposeful act that is socially generated, because it comes of Man,for Man. Designership will provide the forum for evolving user requirements and interface renewal.

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  1. Research Centre for Pragmatics and Communication, Sorbonne University, Paris, France

    Colin T. Schmidt

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  1. Colin T. Schmidt
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Correspondence to Colin T. Schmidt.

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Schmidt, C.T. The person-machine confrontation: Investigations into the pragmatics of dialogism. AI & Soc 10, 315–332 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01174607

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