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Single Idea 10460

[from 'What Does It Take to Refer?' by Kent Bach, in 19. Language / B. Reference / 5. Speaker's Reference ]

Full Idea

If one ducks starts quacking furiously, and you say 'that duck is excited', it isn't context that makes me take it that you are referring to the quacking duck. You could be referring to a quiet duck you recognise by its distinctive colour.

Gist of Idea

'That duck' may not refer to the most obvious one in the group

Source

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

Book Reference

'Oxford Handbook of Philosophy of Language', ed/tr. Lepore,E/Smith,B [OUP 2008], p.545


A Reaction

A persuasive example to make his point against the significance of context in conversational reference. Speaker's intended reference must always trump any apparent reference suggested by context.