Referring expressions

Definition

Referring expressions are linguistic elements that serve to identify or refer to entities in discourse, enabling communication about particular individuals, objects, or concepts. These expressions can take various forms, such as pronouns, definite noun phrases, or proper names, and their interpretation often relies on context and shared knowledge between speakers. Understanding referring expressions is crucial for analyzing how meaning is constructed and how coherence is maintained in conversation.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Referring expressions can be ambiguous, depending on the context and how many entities are being discussed at once.
2. In order to resolve which entity a referring expression points to, listeners rely on pragmatic cues and contextual information.
3. Pronouns are a common form of referring expressions and can indicate gender, number, and case.
4. The ability to correctly interpret referring expressions is essential for effective communication and understanding in dialogue.
5. Binding theory examines how certain referring expressions relate to each other based on grammatical rules and constraints.

Review Questions

• How do referring expressions contribute to the coherence of discourse?
  • Referring expressions help maintain coherence in discourse by linking ideas and entities across sentences or phrases. When speakers use these expressions, they assume listeners can follow the references based on context and prior knowledge. For example, using a pronoun like 'she' allows speakers to avoid repetition while still making it clear whom they are discussing, thus facilitating smoother communication.
• Discuss the role of binding theory in understanding referring expressions and their relationships in language.
  • Binding theory plays a crucial role in understanding how referring expressions relate to each other within sentences. It sets rules for when certain expressions can refer back to an antecedent, impacting coreference. For example, reflexive pronouns like 'himself' must refer back to a specific antecedent within the same clause. By studying these constraints, we can better grasp how language structures relationships between entities in discourse.
• Evaluate the implications of referring expressions on pragmatics and the interpretation of meaning in conversation.
  • Referring expressions significantly impact pragmatics by shaping how meaning is interpreted in conversation. The use of these expressions relies heavily on context, shared knowledge, and speaker intentions. For instance, when someone says 'the president,' it assumes both speaker and listener understand who that is based on context. This evaluation highlights that misinterpretations of referring expressions can lead to misunderstandings, emphasizing the importance of context in effective communication.

Related terms

Coreference: Coreference occurs when two or more expressions in a text refer to the same entity, allowing for cohesion in discourse.

Anaphora: Anaphora is a specific type of referring expression where a pronoun or other expression refers back to a previously mentioned entity.

Definite descriptions: Definite descriptions are noun phrases that refer to a unique entity known to both the speaker and the listener, often preceded by the definite article 'the'.