The rationality of round interpretation

Abstract

Expanding on a point made by Krifka [6, p.7-8], we show that the fact that a round number has been used significantly increases the posterior probability that that number was intended as an approximation. This increase should typically be enough to make assuming that an approximation was indeed intended a rational choice, and thereby helps explain why round numbers are often seen as simply having an approximate meaning. Generalization into non-number words is also discussed, resulting in a possible origin of (some) vagueness. © 2011 Springer-Verlag.