Breaking the ice in a conversation: abstract words prompt dialogs more easily than concrete ones

Abstract domains of knowledge may have social origins. However, whether abstract concepts (ACs) also differentially affect communicative interaction and conversation has not been explored. Here, we studied ACs’ functions by collecting in an Italian English sample, ratings for concrete concept (CC) ACs related to three main dimensions: communicative/pragmatic [i.e., Openness Negotiation (ON), Easiness Start a Conversation (ESC)], semantic/metacognitive Social Metacognition (SM) – perceived need others, Word Confidence (WC), Contextual Availability (CA)], emotional–experiential (i.e., Pleasantness, Valence, Familiarity). Overall, participants judged it was easier start conversation, the more pleasant, familiar, positively valenced were rated concepts. Crucially, at lower values component Familiarity Pleasantness Valence sample), there advantage over CCs ESC. Moreover, higher on SM, ON, WC CA. Notably, both with ESC dimension belonged Self-Sociality subcluster. The results offer new insights into pragmatic aspects linked use.