This book examines presupposition through the lens of epistemic vigilance, the cognitive mechanisms by which we critically evaluate communicated information. Bringing together theoretical perspectives and empirical evidence, it explores how presenting information as taken for granted may influence its critical scrutiny, acceptance, and integration into our beliefs. It also investigates how the relationship between presupposition and epistemic vigilance develops during childhood, shedding light on how emerging linguistic and cognitive abilities shape children's responses to communicated information, including potentially misleading information.

By adopting an epistemic perspective on presupposition, this book offers new insights into the interplay between language, attention, trust, and belief, with broader implications for understanding misinformation, persuasive communication, and the development of critical thinking.

Giulia Giunta is a cognitive linguist and part of the Laboratory of Language and Cognition at the University of Genoa, Italy. She has held research positions at the Universities of Neuchâtel, Switzerland, Milano-Bicocca, Italy, and Roma Tre, Italy. Her research focuses on experimental pragmatics, presupposition, epistemic vigilance, language development, and persuasive communication.