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Successful for Reference = Pick out Particular
·
Question
- What are the necessary and
sufficient conditions for a successful act of reference?
- How does a series of words or even
single word allow us to pick out only one particular from innumerable
particulars in there are in the universe?
·
We can reach appropriate answer by considering
someinformative defect Russell analysis of referring expression. The first
defect Russell ‘s analysis
1. Have
you stop beating your wife lately?
To
answer the question is that we need presuppose in that case, namely there is
wife to be beaten
2. I
went to the cinema ; cinema was two miles away
Cinema
is being used to refer to the same cinema in both case .The use of cinema in the second part of the sentence
presupposes the existence of the cinema mentioned in the first part of the sentence
In general, we can say the
expression in the form “the so and
so” refer back to something earlier in the conversation or something hearer is likely to acquainted
with the context of the conversation.
·
Second defect in Russell’sanalysis .
1. The
king of France is bald
There
might be any number of kings of France. The sentence might be used to refer to
different people
2. The
first man marry Cleopatra
This
sentence refers to one only one
·
Referring expression can be used to
refer to more than particular on the different occasion
·
Context permits such an expression to
refer uniquely on an occasion. Context is often
Getting hearer to recognize what particular is
being refer to by a speaker
·
Context is to be given generous interpretation
here, and is meant to include at least the following
a.
The physical surrounding
b. Previous
part of conversation
c.
The believes or thought of the hearer
·
Referring expression is either an
identifying expression or an expression which the speaker is able to replace
by identifying expression.
The
king is bald
We can only success in referring to particular
king if we are able to replace The king who was over seven feet
tall
·
Speaker’s Right intention is a necessary condition of successful
reference
The
emperor wore no clothes
·
Conclusion
A
person successfully refers by using ‘ The A ‘
if only
a. He
correctly presuppose the existence of ‘ The A’
b. ‘The
A’ is identifying expression or could be
replace by identifying expression by the speaker
c. The
speaker intend to refer to that which ‘the A’ , or identifying expression which replaces it actually applies
to.
d.
·
The objection is thatnecessary must be added . The objection is that an cat
of reference issuccessfulonly if the
hearer succeed in identifying particular referred by a speaker.
