Negation and psychological dimensions

This paper analyses whether negation, as a modifier of degree, leads to different outcomes based on the psychophysical structure of the polar dimension along which the shift produced by the negator “not” occurs. In three experiments, the interpretation of negation in association with four different types of dimension was analysed. The types comprised: (1) strongly asymmetrical dimensions, topologically defined (in terms of the characteristics of Pole a/intermediates/Pole b) as unbounded range/no intermediates/point (e.g., open–closed); (2) moderately asymmetrical dimensions, topologically defined as unbounded range/range of intermediates/bounded range (e.g., wide–narrow); (3) slightly symmetrical dimensions, topologically defined as point/range of intermediates/point (e.g., full–empty); and (4) symmetrical dimensions, topologically defined as bounded range/point/bounded range (e.g., above–below). Results showed that the function of negation varies depending on which type of dimension is involved. These results are discussed in relation to previous literature, where the definition of various types of antonyms was based on the applicability of different lexical modifiers of degree.