Abstract
Predictions of the connotative meaning of 10 adjective-noun combinations by the congruity principle and belief congruence were compared on the evaluative, potency, and activity semantic differential dimensions. Greater accuracy of predictions was found for belief congruence than for the congruity principle on all three dimensions. Errors of prediction, for either model, which did occur were generally attributable to underestimation of the effect of the adjective component on the meaning of the combination. These errors also tended to arise from underestimation of the effects of words rated toward the bad, strong, and passive ends of the evaluative, potency and activity semantic differential dimensions, respectively.
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