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" The Meaning and Semantics of Singular Definite Noun Phrases "
Nichols, Paul
Almog, Joseph;Cumming, Samuel
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Latin Dissertation
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| Language of Document
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English
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| Record Number
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913898
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TL1x58d6vd
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| Main Entry
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Nichols, Paul
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| Title & Author
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The Meaning and Semantics of Singular Definite Noun Phrases\ Nichols, PaulAlmog, Joseph;Cumming, Samuel
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| College
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UCLA
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| Date
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2014
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| student score
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2014
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| Abstract
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In my dissertation I develop a uniform, purely-referential account of all singular definitenoun phrases. The first chapter argues that names, pronouns and definite description areused to accomplish a single communicative function: namely, to convey the identity of theentity to which they refer. The differences between these three types of singular definitenoun phrase is attributed to the different communicative contexts in which they are used.The second chapter extends the account of the first chapter to generic, predicational, andso-called narrow-scope definite descriptions. The view defended is that generic, narrow-scope and predicational uses of definite descriptions refer to kinds, which have as membersthe individuals referred to by specific uses. The third chapter applies the theory of definitenoun phrases developed in the first two chapters to the semantics of indirect discourse. Oncethe semantics of definite noun phrases in simple sentences is properly understood, indirectdiscourse poses no new obstacles to a purely referential semantics.
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Almog, Joseph;Cumming, Samuel
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UCLA
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