Sense and reference in semantics

Question

the way to indicate reference and sense in sentences
For example: that woman in "that woman is the one I love"
I am sorry to disturb you - when I said will you move your chair?, I dont mean you, I meant Patrick here.
So you help me to explain and answer my question.
Thank you for your help.
the sooner the better

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

First, I have made a few edits.

the way to indicate reference and sense in sentences

I don't clearly understand your question, so I'll just offer a few comments.

For example: that woman in "That woman is the one I love."

that woman - refers to some one woman previouslsy indicated, typically either by verbal reference or by some non-verbal action, such as pointing to her with a finger.

I am sorry to disturb you. When I said "Will you move your chair?", I didn't mean you. I meant Patrick here.

When you say 'you' like this, you typically look at the person you are talking to. When you mention Patrick, you would typically glance at him or indicate him in some way.

So you help me to explain and answer my question. If I haven't answered your question, please ask it again more clearly.

Clive

CalifJim · Answer

Anonymous~~that~~ That woman is the one I love

Reference is the connection between words and things (or beings) in the real world. "That woman" refers to a particular woman. That particular woman in the real world is said to be the referent of the expression "that woman". In this sentence, the expression "the one I love" is also a referring expression. If we take the sentence as a whole to be true, the referent of "the one I love" and the referent of "that woman" are the same woman in the real world. In other words, both expressions have the same referent.

As for the idea of sense, that is a concept that applies only between words or groups of words, so that "almost" and "nearly" in "almost ready" and "nearly ready" are said to have the same sense. "probably" and "likely" also have the same sense. You can find out the sense of words by using a dictionary, but you can never find out the referents of words until you hear them in context. Not all words can refer; "was", "if", and "or" are examples of such words. They have a sense but can never have referents. Some words (like "I", "he", etc.) always have the same sense whenever they are used (of course, all words have the same sense as themselves), but change reference depending on how they are used in the context of sentences.

_________

Using this information, you should be able to discuss sense and reference with respect to the sentence below. Concentrate particularly on the use of the word "you", and you should be able to say something interesting about sense and reference.

I am sorry to disturb you. When I said, "Will you move your chair?" I didn't mean you, I meant Patrick here.

CJ

Sense and reference in semantics

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