Descriptions in Context

By Cleo A Condoravdi

First published in 1997, this book focuses on the semantics of definite and indefinite descriptions -- taking the presuppositional theory of definiteness and indefiniteness proposed by Heim as a starting point. It seeks to show that there exists a special type of indefinites that have an interpretation commonly associated with definites. It further argues that the felicity conditions associated with indefinite NP's can vary and develops a more fine-grained theory of novelty within the framework of File Change Semantics. More generally, this work can be seen as providing an empirical argument in favour of a dynamic theory of meaning and against the more traditional truth-conditional theory.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1138697419
• ISBN13: 9781138697416
• Release Date: February 2018
• Publisher: Routledge
• Length: 216 Pages
• Weight: 0.68 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.1" x 9.2"