ATLAS OF LANGUAGE

AT-NAV-G04-001 · ATLAS 259

Coreference

Coreference occurs when several expressions refer to the same referent.

Part of the subject path Syntax and Grammar

Why is this entry in the Atlas?

G · Foundational concept R2 · Necessary foundation

Coreference is needed to distinguish different designations of one referent from sameness of meaning. Shared reference requires neither synonymous expressions nor identical linguistic form.

Colours and admission grounds

The rectangular label identifies the entry function: F – linguistic figure or procedure; A – analytical concept; G – foundational concept; E – selected concrete case. The rounded badge indicates the admission ground: R1 – distinctive contribution; R2 – necessary foundation; R3 – justified illustrative case. This editorial rationale explains the current selection rather than claiming an undocumented original selection history.

Explanation

Coreference occurs when several expressions refer to the same referent. It concerns reference, not similarity of form or meaning. A name, a description and a pronoun may designate one person without being synonymous. Anaphora and coreference also do not coincide completely: some anaphoric expressions depend on an antecedent for interpretation without sharing one fixed referent with it. The originating contexts of control, logophoricity and switch-reference therefore require additional construction-specific analysis. Identical reference does not explain the grammatical conditions that permit or constrain it.

Movement of thought

1. Delimit the relevant expressions. 2. Establish their reference in context. 3. Test whether their referents are identical. 4. Examine grammatical dependencies separately. 5. Use alternative readings to test the assignment.

Scientific use case

Corpus analysis can annotate reference chains while explicitly marking uncertain assignments.

Example

“Mira came in. The doctor sat down” may contain coreferential expressions if the doctor is Mira; context must establish this.

Counterexample

In “Every doctor checks her records”, her may vary with each doctor. One shared referent does not explain this bound reading.

Distinction

Distinguish coreference from synonymy, anaphora generally and grammatical control.

Effect on thought and perception

Coreference reveals how changing designations maintain continuity in discourse.

Resonance

Language changes its sign while attention remains with the same person.

Provenance

Parallel corpus 98f0950771ae4662f291d2f15f5c51b6797f3c20ba458a68615cdb177002ea18; case-bounded source review accepted; human specialist review not claimed.

Cite this entry

Reich, Michael (Hrsg./ed.): „Coreference“. Atlas der Sprache, AT-NAV-G04-001. ATLAS 259, data model 1.6.0. https://atlasoflanguage.com/concept/AT-NAV-G04-001

https://atlasoflanguage.com/concept/AT-NAV-G04-001

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