A practical introduction to the Rational Speech Act modeling framework
This provides a practical guide for researchers in computational cognitive science to apply formal models of pragmatics, though it is incremental as it builds on existing advances.
The paper introduces and assesses the Bayesian Rational Speech Act modeling framework, which formalizes pragmatic reasoning to derive qualitative and quantitative predictions of human behavior that have consistently proven correct, demonstrating its viability.
Recent advances in computational cognitive science (i.e., simulation-based probabilistic programs) have paved the way for significant progress in formal, implementable models of pragmatics. Rather than describing a pragmatic reasoning process in prose, these models formalize and implement one, deriving both qualitative and quantitative predictions of human behavior -- predictions that consistently prove correct, demonstrating the viability and value of the framework. The current paper provides a practical introduction to and critical assessment of the Bayesian Rational Speech Act modeling framework, unpacking theoretical foundations, exploring technological innovations, and drawing connections to issues beyond current applications.