Original scientific paper

Referential Descriptions: A Note on Bach

Michael Devitt

Abstract

Bach fails to give a satisfactory pragmatic account of referential uses of definite descriptions because he does not explain how a description’s
quantificational meaning plays a “key role” in those uses. Bach’s criticism that my semantic account does not explain how the hearer understands
a description is misguided. Bach’s denial that a pragmatic account is committed to the attributive use being more fundamental detaches
meaning from use in an unacceptable way.

Keywords

Definite descriptions; indefinite descriptions; referential uses; attributive uses; implicatures; demonstrativesl

Hrčak ID:

93211

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/93211

Publication date:

30.10.2007.

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