Maximilian de Gaynesford
- Published in print:
- 2006
- Published Online:
- May 2006
- ISBN:
- 9780199287826
- eISBN:
- 9780191603570
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/0199287821.003.0009
- Subject:
- Philosophy, Philosophy of Language
The referential function of any singular term is to provide a positive answer to the question: ‘which individual is being spoken of?’, that is, to achieve determinacy of reference. What enables a ...
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The referential function of any singular term is to provide a positive answer to the question: ‘which individual is being spoken of?’, that is, to achieve determinacy of reference. What enables a singular term to carry out this function is the ‘determinant’ of the term. Demonstration is not the determinant of deictic terms because they can fulfil their referential function by appeal to utterance-relative uniqueness, or by leading candidacy given the surrounding discourse or perceptual environment.Less
The referential function of any singular term is to provide a positive answer to the question: ‘which individual is being spoken of?’, that is, to achieve determinacy of reference. What enables a singular term to carry out this function is the ‘determinant’ of the term. Demonstration is not the determinant of deictic terms because they can fulfil their referential function by appeal to utterance-relative uniqueness, or by leading candidacy given the surrounding discourse or perceptual environment.
Maximilian de Gaynesford
- Published in print:
- 2006
- Published Online:
- May 2006
- ISBN:
- 9780199287826
- eISBN:
- 9780191603570
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/0199287821.003.0010
- Subject:
- Philosophy, Philosophy of Language
I fulfils its referential function in the deictic mode. Deictic terms fulfil their referential role by the action of making an individual salient. That is the genus to which ...
More
I fulfils its referential function in the deictic mode. Deictic terms fulfil their referential role by the action of making an individual salient. That is the genus to which demonstration, utterance-relative uniqueness, and leading candidature belong as species. I fulfils its referential role by making an individual salient. Salience is the determinant of the term.Less
I fulfils its referential function in the deictic mode. Deictic terms fulfil their referential role by the action of making an individual salient. That is the genus to which demonstration, utterance-relative uniqueness, and leading candidature belong as species. I fulfils its referential role by making an individual salient. Salience is the determinant of the term.