Ebook: Reference and Anaphoric Relations

This book is a collection of original research articles on the representation and in­ terpretation of indefinite and definite noun phrases, anaphoric pronouns, and closely related issues such as reference, scope and quantifier movement. A variety of frame­ works for the formal analysis of discourse semantics are represented, including dis­ course representation theory, file change semantics, dynamic Logic, E-type theories, and choice function approaches, which was one of the main issues the Konstanz project were concerned with. All of these frameworks are couched in the tradition of Montague Grammar, even though they extend the classical formalism in different directions. The developments emerged from the modern discussion of problems for the representation of cross-sentential anaphoric relations involving pronouns, and the interpretation of definite and indefinite noun phrases. After a decade of controversy, these approaches are merging together, enriching each other's formal mechanisms rather than expressing opposition. Thus, the articles in this volume concentrate on fundamental semantic questions, and also extend the current formalisms in order to capture more data. The roots of this book lie in the workshop "Reference and Anaphoric Relations", which was held at the University of Konstanz in June 1996. Five main issues were discussed: (i) the Stoic and scholastic treatment of reference and anaphora; (ii) quan­ tification and scope, (iii) anaphoric reference; (iv) the representation of indefinite NPs with choice functions; and (v) the relation between linguistic expressions, their rep­ resentations and their meanings.

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The notions of reference and anaphoric relations have been discussed since antiquity and they are still one of the most challenging subjects in linguistics, logics and philosophy of language. The quest for a satisfying account of anaphoric reference has initiated a wide range of new and interesting approaches in formal semantics; and recent research confirms the old insight that reference and anaphoricity are closely interrelated issues. This volume brings together fifteen original research articles on the representation and interpretation of indefinite and definite noun phrases, anaphoric pronouns, and closely related issues such as scope and quantifier movement. The analyses are worked out within discourse representation theory, file change semantics, and dynamic logic, a family of recent frameworks developed for the formal analysis of discourse semantics. Particular attention is paid to E-type theories of pronouns and to the use of choice functions in the semantics of noun phrases.
The papers collected in this volume shed light on the question of how linguistic expressions establish reference and anaphoric relations. The use of choice function approaches within dynamic semantics opens new research perspectives on these questions.
Audience: This book will be of interest to scholars and students of linguistics, logicians, philosophers of language, computational linguists, and computer scientists with an interest in the semantics of natural language.

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The notions of reference and anaphoric relations have been discussed since antiquity and they are still one of the most challenging subjects in linguistics, logics and philosophy of language. The quest for a satisfying account of anaphoric reference has initiated a wide range of new and interesting approaches in formal semantics; and recent research confirms the old insight that reference and anaphoricity are closely interrelated issues. This volume brings together fifteen original research articles on the representation and interpretation of indefinite and definite noun phrases, anaphoric pronouns, and closely related issues such as scope and quantifier movement. The analyses are worked out within discourse representation theory, file change semantics, and dynamic logic, a family of recent frameworks developed for the formal analysis of discourse semantics. Particular attention is paid to E-type theories of pronouns and to the use of choice functions in the semantics of noun phrases.
The papers collected in this volume shed light on the question of how linguistic expressions establish reference and anaphoric relations. The use of choice function approaches within dynamic semantics opens new research perspectives on these questions.
Audience: This book will be of interest to scholars and students of linguistics, logicians, philosophers of language, computational linguists, and computer scientists with an interest in the semantics of natural language.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xi
Introduction: Reference and the Semantics of Anaphora....Pages 1-13
Front Matter....Pages 15-15
Anaphora from Athens to Amsterdam....Pages 17-29
Understanding the Semantics of “Relativa Grammaticalia” some Medieval Logicians on Anaphoric Pronouns....Pages 31-46
Meaning in Motion....Pages 47-76
Front Matter....Pages 77-77
Scope Matters....Pages 79-108
Scope Ambiguities with Negative Quantifiers....Pages 109-132
Definiteness Effect: The Case of Russian....Pages 133-146
Persistence, Polarity, and Plurality....Pages 147-153
Front Matter....Pages 155-155
Anaphoric Relations Across Attitude Contexts....Pages 157-181
The Grammar of the Attitudes....Pages 183-190
Front Matter....Pages 191-191
Some Remarks on Choice Functions and LF-Movement....Pages 193-228
What Makes Choice Natural?....Pages 229-245
The Reference of Indefinites....Pages 247-265
Front Matter....Pages 267-267
Reference and Inference: The Case of Anaphora....Pages 269-286
Coreference and Representationalism....Pages 287-310
Underspecified Semantics....Pages 311-338
Back Matter....Pages 339-351

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The notions of reference and anaphoric relations have been discussed since antiquity and they are still one of the most challenging subjects in linguistics, logics and philosophy of language. The quest for a satisfying account of anaphoric reference has initiated a wide range of new and interesting approaches in formal semantics; and recent research confirms the old insight that reference and anaphoricity are closely interrelated issues. This volume brings together fifteen original research articles on the representation and interpretation of indefinite and definite noun phrases, anaphoric pronouns, and closely related issues such as scope and quantifier movement. The analyses are worked out within discourse representation theory, file change semantics, and dynamic logic, a family of recent frameworks developed for the formal analysis of discourse semantics. Particular attention is paid to E-type theories of pronouns and to the use of choice functions in the semantics of noun phrases.
The papers collected in this volume shed light on the question of how linguistic expressions establish reference and anaphoric relations. The use of choice function approaches within dynamic semantics opens new research perspectives on these questions.
Audience: This book will be of interest to scholars and students of linguistics, logicians, philosophers of language, computational linguists, and computer scientists with an interest in the semantics of natural language.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xi
Introduction: Reference and the Semantics of Anaphora....Pages 1-13
Front Matter....Pages 15-15
Anaphora from Athens to Amsterdam....Pages 17-29
Understanding the Semantics of “Relativa Grammaticalia” some Medieval Logicians on Anaphoric Pronouns....Pages 31-46
Meaning in Motion....Pages 47-76
Front Matter....Pages 77-77
Scope Matters....Pages 79-108
Scope Ambiguities with Negative Quantifiers....Pages 109-132
Definiteness Effect: The Case of Russian....Pages 133-146
Persistence, Polarity, and Plurality....Pages 147-153
Front Matter....Pages 155-155
Anaphoric Relations Across Attitude Contexts....Pages 157-181
The Grammar of the Attitudes....Pages 183-190
Front Matter....Pages 191-191
Some Remarks on Choice Functions and LF-Movement....Pages 193-228
What Makes Choice Natural?....Pages 229-245
The Reference of Indefinites....Pages 247-265
Front Matter....Pages 267-267
Reference and Inference: The Case of Anaphora....Pages 269-286
Coreference and Representationalism....Pages 287-310
Underspecified Semantics....Pages 311-338
Back Matter....Pages 339-351
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