A West African Replication of the Four Card Problem

Abstract

Differences in results of the four card problem between language groups have led to the hypothesis that the more precisely one can express a concept in a given language, the easier it will be for subjects to acquire that concept. The Kpelle of Liberia and the Adjukru of the Ivory Coast, however, express inclusive disjunction in approximately the same way, but the Adjukru were found to have much more difficulty acquiring such concepts. Moreover, exclusive disjunction is expressed very precisely and simply in Adjukru, but the acquisition of such concepts was found to be very difficult indeed. The results suggest the inadequacy of the above hypothesis.