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🔠intro to semantics and pragmatics review

Referents

Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025

Definition

Referents are the actual entities, individuals, or objects in the real world that linguistic expressions refer to. Understanding referents is crucial in semantics as they play a vital role in how meaning is constructed and interpreted within discourse, especially when considering how different sentences relate to each other and how we build meaning over time.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

  1. Referents are essential in linking language to the world, helping speakers and listeners understand what is being talked about.
  2. In Discourse Representation Theory, referents are represented by discourse markers that indicate their introduction, continuation, or absence in a conversation.
  3. Referents can be definite (specific) or indefinite (non-specific), influencing how listeners interpret the speaker's intent.
  4. The use of pronouns in discourse relies heavily on understanding referents, as they typically refer back to previously mentioned entities.
  5. Ambiguities can arise from referents when multiple entities could satisfy a given reference, leading to potential misunderstandings in communication.

Review Questions

  • How do referents contribute to our understanding of meaning in discourse?
    • Referents serve as the link between language and real-world entities, allowing speakers and listeners to create shared understanding. When a speaker refers to an object or person, the listener must identify which specific entity is being discussed. This identification process is crucial for coherent communication, as it helps clarify intent and ensures that participants are on the same page.
  • Discuss the role of referents in Discourse Representation Theory and how they impact meaning construction.
    • In Discourse Representation Theory, referents are central to how information is organized and interpreted within discourse. DRT uses structures to represent introduced entities and track their relationships throughout a conversation. By effectively managing referents, DRT allows for a clearer understanding of how various parts of discourse interact and contribute to overall meaning.
  • Evaluate how ambiguities in referents can affect communication and understanding in natural language.
    • Ambiguities involving referents can lead to confusion and miscommunication when listeners cannot determine which entity a speaker is referring to. For example, if two people are present and a speaker says 'he', without clear context, it's unclear who 'he' refers to. Such ambiguities challenge effective communication, highlighting the importance of clarity in referring expressions and contextual cues in natural language interactions.