more on this theme     |     more from this thinker

Single Idea 10459

[filed under theme 19. Language / B. Reference / 5. Speaker's Reference ]

Full Idea

Context does not determine or constitute reference; rather, it is something for the speaker to exploit to enable the listener to determine the intended reference.

Gist of Idea

Context does not create reference; it is just something speakers can exploit

Source

Kent Bach (What Does It Take to Refer? [2006], 22.2 L3)

Book Ref

'Oxford Handbook of Philosophy of Language', ed/tr. Lepore,E/Smith,B [OUP 2008], p.544

A Reaction

Bach thinks linguistic reference is a matter of speaker's intentions, and I think he is right. And this idea is right too. The domain of quantification constantly shifts in a conversation, and good speakers and listeners are sensitive to this.

The 21 ideas from 'What Does It Take to Refer?'

10440 An object can be described without being referred to [Bach]
10439 What refers: indefinite or definite or demonstrative descriptions, names, indexicals, demonstratives? [Bach]
10441 If we can refer to things which change, we can't be obliged to single out their properties [Bach]
10446 Fictional reference is different inside and outside the fiction [Bach]
10447 We can refer to fictional entities if they are abstract objects [Bach]
10442 We can think of an individual without have a uniquely characterizing description [Bach]
10443 You 'allude to', not 'refer to', an individual if you keep their identity vague [Bach]
10444 Definite descriptions can be used to refer, but are not semantically referential [Bach]
10445 It can't be real reference if it could refer to some other thing that satisfies the description [Bach]
10455 Free logic at least allows empty names, but struggles to express non-existence [Bach]
10454 In first-order we can't just assert existence, and it is very hard to deny something's existence [Bach]
10453 In logic constants play the role of proper names [Bach]
10452 Proper names can be non-referential - even predicate as well as attributive uses [Bach]
10456 Millian names struggle with existence, empty names, identities and attitude ascription [Bach]
10457 Since most expressions can be used non-referentially, none of them are inherently referential [Bach]
10459 Context does not create reference; it is just something speakers can exploit [Bach]
10460 'That duck' may not refer to the most obvious one in the group [Bach]
10458 People slide from contextual variability all the way to contextual determination [Bach]
10461 What a pronoun like 'he' refers back to is usually a matter of speaker's intentions [Bach]
10462 Information comes from knowing who is speaking, not just from interpretation of the utterance [Bach]
10463 Just alluding to or describing an object is not the same as referring to it [Bach]