ATLAS OF LANGUAGE

AT-NAV-G04-042 · ATLAS 259

Reference

Reference here concerns the relationship through which linguistic expressions in use are directed towards something.

Part of the subject path Semantics and Signs

Why is this entry in the Atlas?

G · Foundational concept R2 · Necessary foundation

Reference enables the question of what an expression is used to refer to. It supports distinctions between lexical meaning, referential use and situation, especially in deixis, indexicality and coreference. This foundational entry belongs to the additional navigation inventory.

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

Reference here concerns the relationship through which linguistic expressions in use are directed towards something. Its mechanisms may vary by expression type: names, demonstratives and indexicals pose different questions. Reference therefore cannot simply be equated with dictionary meaning. The pronoun “I” has a relatively stable rule of use but can designate different people in different utterances. Linguistic reference also differs from intentionality understood as the general directedness of mental states. The entry accommodates competing accounts and reference to kinds or absent objects without presupposing one mechanism for every case.

Movement of thought

1. Identify the expression type. 2. Reconstruct the utterance context. 3. Determine the possible referent. 4. Separate the meaning rule from particular reference. 5. Test alternative accounts against the example.

Scientific use case

Semantic research can test how pointing, background knowledge and conversational context affect reference assignments.

Example

Two people successively say “I am tired”. The pronoun “I” follows the same linguistic rule but refers to a different speaker on each occasion.

Counterexample

Understanding a name does not guarantee a corresponding real object; fictional names require additional theoretical clarification.

Distinction

Distinguish reference from meaning generally, denotation under every theory, referent and mental intentionality.

Effect on thought and perception

Reference connects linguistic form with a particular direction of understanding.

Resonance

The same word can retain its place while pointing to someone different each time.

Provenance

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

Cite this entry

Reich, Michael (Hrsg./ed.): „Reference“. Atlas der Sprache, AT-NAV-G04-042. ATLAS 259, data model 1.6.0. https://atlasoflanguage.com/concept/AT-NAV-G04-042

https://atlasoflanguage.com/concept/AT-NAV-G04-042

The address remains stable; editorial content may evolve. Editorial reading state: 2026-10-15. Include your access date for precise references.