The meaning of proper names.

Autor/in	Saka, Paul
Titel	The meaning of proper names.
Quelle	(1989), 7 S.Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	Mikroform; Monographie
Schlagwörter	Grammatik; Linguistik; Linguistische Theorie; Onomastik; Semantik; Sprache; Bedeutung; Kontrastierung
Abstract	The two major schools of thought concerned with the meaning of proper names, i. e., the direct-reference or referrential/causal theory, and the description theory, are outlined, and new arguments are presented for a strong version of the second of these theories. The referential theory takes the meaning of the name as being the same as its referent. Four classical problems associated with this approach are identified. The description theory holds, generally, that names are semantically equivalent to descriptions. The chief problem seen in this approach is the modal argument. The causal theory says that the meaning of a name somehow involves the causal chain that connects the current use of the name to earlier uses of it, ultimately going back to some original ostension. This is seen as a sophisticated version of the referential theory. This theory is also seen as having some problems. Elaborations of the description theory are not satisfactory. New arguments against the nominal-description theory are presented, including the distinctions between proper and common names and between vagueness and ambiguity in shared names. These arguments are seen as making the complete-description theory more plausible. In support of this thesis, it is proposed that names, like pronouns, take only wide scope.
Erfasst von	Informationszentrum für Fremdsprachenforschung, Marburg
Update	1996_(CD)