Abstract

Introduction Chapter 1: Referential/Attributive: The Problem and The Debate 1.1 Referential/Attributive in Donnellan 1.2 Available Strategies: Semantic or Pragmatic 1.2.1 Semantic Account Demonstrative Use of Definite Description in Kaplan Wettstein 1.2.2 Pragmatic Account Conversational Implicature in Grice, Neale, Salmon and Bach Contextual Variability in Recanati and Stalnaker Referential Variability in Searle and Kripke Chapter 2: Referential/Attributive and Speech Acts Referential Expressions and the R/A Distinction 1.1 Natural-Kind Name 1.2 Pronoun 1.3 Demonstrative 1.4 Quantified Expression A Speech Act Analysis 2.1 Pragmatics Preambles 2.2 Sentence, Proposition and Statement 2.3 The Referential Challenge of the R/A Distinction Chapter 3: Descriptive Use of Indexicals 3.1 Descriptive Use of Indexicals in Nunberg 3.1.1 Nunberg on Interpreting Indexicals 3.1.2 Nunberg’s Examples on Descriptive Use 3.2 Recanati’s Response from Direct Reference Theory 3.2.1 Multi-layered Pragmatics 3.2.2 Recanat’s Treatment of Nunberg’s Descriptive Use 3.2.3 Models of Non-literal Interpretation 3.3 Nunberg’s Modified View on the Descriptive Use of Indexicals Chapter 4: Descriptive Use of Indexicals II 4.1 Classification of Deictic Usage’s in the Descriptive Approach 4.2 Indexicals and the Proposition Expressed 4.3 Direct Reference Terminology and The Fregean Indexical Problem 4.4 Re-examining Nunberg’s Examples 4.5 The Case of ‘We’ and ‘You’ Chapter 5: Incomplete Descriptions: The Problem 5.1 The Problem With Incomplete Descriptions 5.2 Wettstein-Salmon Debate 5.3 Discussions on Possible Approaches 5.4 Implicit Approach and Explicit Approach 5.5 Semantic Proposals and Pragmatic Proposals Chapter 6: Incomplete Descriptions: Problems of Elliptical Analysis, Situation Semantics, and Relevance 6.1 The Sentence Level Treatment: Various Problems of Ellipsis Theory 6.2 Implicature Level Treatment: Violation of Modified Grician Razor. 6.3 The Linguistic Meaning or ‘Kaplanian Character’ Level: Semantic Ambiguity 6.4 Proposition Expressed Level: Domain Delimitation Treatment 6.4.1 Further Objections to Domain Delimitation Strategy 6.5 Relevance-Theoretic Considerations and Situation Semantics Chapter 7: The Semantics of Event Names: Events and Their Names 7.1 The Problem of Event Descriptions 7.2 Kim on Event Metaphysics and Semantics 7.3 Bennett on Event Metaphysics and Semantics and Bennett on Kim’s Event Semantics 7.4 Final Remarks on Kim-Bennett Debate on Event Names Chapter 8: Fact/Event Distinction and Imperfect/Perfect Nominal Distinction 8.1 Vendler on Fact/Event Distinction 8.2 Bennett on Fact/Event Distinction 8.3 Asher on Fact/Event Distinction 8.4 Further Semantic/Pragmatic Issues 8.5 Conclusions: Reexamining the Theoretical Landscape of the Fact/Event Distinction Chapter 9: Davidson and Kim on Action Sentences 9.1 The Issues Between Kim and Davidson 9.1.1 Kim on Davidson 9.1.2 Davidson’s Adverbs of Action and Davidson on Kim 9.2 How to Deal With Davidson’s Nonstandard Adverbs Conclusion.