March 2016
Beginner to intermediate
614 pages
21h 52m
English
Catherine Davies and Napoleon Katsos
Abstract: Overspecification in reference is the provision of more information than is minimally required for a hearer to identify an intended referent, e.g., ‘the stripy bowl’ in the context of a single bowl. Since this kind of referring expression is not predicted by traditional accounts of reference, this chapter reviews research documenting the frequency of such expressions in various contexts. Drawing together recent empirical findings, it proposes reasons for overspecified reference from both the speaker’s and the addressee’s perspective. The pragmatic, cognitive and social significance of overspecification is discussed, and ...
Read now
Unlock full access