The interpretation of the behavior of the listener

In this talk I will begin by summarizing what is uncontroversial: the interlocking behavior of the typical speaker and listener as they switch roles in a typical verbal exchange. I will then turn to what is only speculative. The behavior of the speaker commonly alters the repertoire of the behavior of the listener, but how it does so remains mysterious in the apparent absence of contingencies of reinforcement. I will offer an interpretation that attempts to solve the mystery, but it draws heavily on events that are commonly unobserved in the typical verbal exchange. In particular, I will argue that the function of the behavior of the speaker is to induce the same behavior in the listener under conditions in which such behavior is automatically reinforced. Although speculative, I believe the account is adequate and has the advantage of appealing only to well established behavioral principles.