Discourse referents

Definition

Discourse referents are abstract entities introduced in a conversation that represent individuals, objects, or events discussed in the discourse. They allow for a clear tracking of references across sentences, facilitating coherence and helping listeners understand who or what is being talked about. This concept plays a crucial role in organizing information and managing focus within conversations.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Discourse referents are typically introduced through noun phrases or definite descriptions, allowing speakers to specify which entities they are referring to.
2. Once a discourse referent is established, it can be referred to again using pronouns or other expressions without needing to repeat the full noun phrase.
3. In Discourse Representation Theory, discourse referents help build structures that model how information is updated and referenced throughout a conversation.
4. Centering Theory uses discourse referents to determine the focus of a conversation by analyzing which entities are most prominent and how they shift over time.
5. Discourse referents are crucial for managing coherence, enabling listeners to keep track of multiple entities and their relationships as the discourse unfolds.

Review Questions

• How do discourse referents contribute to maintaining coherence in spoken or written discourse?
  • Discourse referents help maintain coherence by allowing speakers and listeners to track which entities are being discussed without repeating names or descriptions. They provide a way to connect different parts of the discourse through anaphoric references, ensuring that listeners can follow the conversation's flow. By clarifying who or what is being talked about at any given moment, discourse referents enhance understanding and minimize confusion.
• Discuss the relationship between discourse referents and Centering Theory in managing conversational focus.
  • In Centering Theory, discourse referents are essential for identifying the entities that are currently salient in a conversation. The theory organizes participants into a hierarchy based on their prominence, with certain discourse referents becoming the focus as conversations progress. This relationship helps clarify which entities listeners should pay attention to, facilitating smoother transitions between topics while also keeping track of the conversation's flow.
• Evaluate how Discourse Representation Theory utilizes discourse referents to model temporal reference and aspect within conversations.
  • Discourse Representation Theory employs discourse referents to create structures that not only represent entities but also capture temporal aspects of discussions. By linking events and their corresponding discourse referents over time, DRT models how information evolves as speakers introduce new contexts and references. This capability allows for a nuanced understanding of how different pieces of information interact chronologically, contributing to a coherent narrative flow while addressing both temporal reference and aspect effectively.

Related terms

Anaphora:

A linguistic term referring to the use of a word or phrase to refer back to a previously mentioned entity, often seen in pronouns like 'he' or 'it'.

Discourse Representation Theory (DRT):

A framework used to represent the meaning of sentences and discourse, focusing on how information is structured and interpreted over time.

Centering Theory:

A theory that describes how discourse participants are organized into a hierarchy of salience, helping to track who or what is currently the focus of attention in conversation.