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Realism and Definiteness

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Properties, Types and Meaning

Part of the book series: Studies in Linguistics and Philosophy ((SLAP,volume 39))

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Abstract

This paper is concerned with the consequences of the familiarity theory of definiteness for the foundations of natural language semantics. What I will in particular explore is the question whether it is possible to interpret the claims in the familiarity theory of definiteness within a strictly realist framework or whether it forces a psychological interpretation. My claim will be that it forces such an interpretation, though I do not wish to claim that there are no possibilities that could be fruitfully pursued within a more realist framework.

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References

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© 1989 Kluwer Academic Publishers

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Zeevat, H. (1989). Realism and Definiteness. In: Chierchia, G., Partee, B.H., Turner, R. (eds) Properties, Types and Meaning. Studies in Linguistics and Philosophy, vol 39. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-2723-0_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-2723-0_7

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-55608-070-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-2723-0

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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