Asymmetries between uniqueness and familiarity in the semantics of definite descriptions

2021 ◽  
Vol 30 ◽  
pp. 694
Author(s):  
Sadhwi Srinivas ◽  
Kyle Rawlins ◽  
Daphna Heller
Keyword(s):  
Definite Descriptions ◽  
Definite Article ◽  
Two Factors ◽  
Future Work

In over a century of research into the English definite article "the", two main theoretical factors have been identified as relevant to its meaning: namely, (i) uniqueness and (ii) familiarity. The identification of these factors has led to an extensive debate in semantics about which of them is more fundamental to the meaning of "the". In this paper, we contribute to this debate by introducing novel data obtained through two controlled psycholinguistic experiments. We manipulated uniqueness and familiarity of potential referents, examining how these factors affect the comprehension and production of English definite descriptions. The behavioral results reveal an asymmetry between these two factors, with familiarity being a weaker cue than uniqueness – a pattern that is unexpected under any existing theory of definiteness. We close with a discussion of possible extensions to existing theories in light of this result, as well as avenues for future work.

scholarly journals Definiteness

Linguistics ◽  
2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Klaus von Heusinger
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Science ◽  
Computational Linguistics ◽  
Proper Names ◽  
Analytic Philosophy ◽  
Noun Phrases ◽  
Definite Descriptions ◽  
Definite Article ◽  
Personal Pronouns ◽  
Linguistic Structure ◽  
Definite Expressions

Definiteness is a semantic-pragmatic notion that is closely associated with the use of the definite article (or determiner) in languages like English, Hungarian, Hebrew, and Lakhota. The definite article can be used in different conditions: deictic, anaphoric, unique, and certain indirect uses, often also called “bridging uses.” Accordingly, there are different semantic theories of definiteness, such as the salience theory, the familiarity or identifiability theory, and the uniqueness or inclusiveness theory. Definite expressions cover personal pronouns, proper names, demonstratives, definite noun phrases, and universally quantified expressions. Noun phrases with the definite article, known as “definite descriptions,” are a key issue in semantics and analytic philosophy with respect to the interaction of reference and description in identifying an object. The research and analysis of definiteness is of great importance not only for the linguistic structure of languages but also for our understanding of reference and referring in philosophy, cognitive science, computational linguistics, and communication science.

scholarly journals Accent and description: An account of anaphoric epithets

2010 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Charley Evan Beller
Keyword(s):  
Definite Descriptions ◽  
Definite Article ◽  
Current Analysis ◽  
Conventional Implicature ◽  
Expressive Content ◽  
Nominal Reference

Anaphoric epithets are definite descriptions that achieve reference anaphorically. They also convey some expressive content. Potts (2003) analyzes the expressive component as a Conventional Implicature. He proposes that the expressive component is provided by the nominal, reference is provided by a phonologically null variable adjacent to the nominal, and the definite article is semantically contentless. The current analysis agrees that the nominal provides the attitudinal meaning. Rather than positing a null syntactic element reference is achieved by incorporating Elbourne's (2005) proposal that the definite determiner takes an index argument and a nominal argument.

scholarly journals Definite Descriptions, Presuppositions and Reference

2017 ◽  
Vol 59 (1) ◽  
pp. 37
Author(s):  
Marco Ruffino
Keyword(s):  
Definite Descriptions ◽  
Definite Article

In this article I review some fundamental aspects of the singularist view of definite descriptions taking as paradigm the Frege-Strawson version of it. I consider more closely the role of the definite article and its relation with presuppositions. Finally, I raise some doubts about the coherence of such approach as an explanation for the phenomenon of reference.

scholarly journals Recalibrating expectations about effect size: A multi-method survey of effect sizes in the ABCD study

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (9) ◽  
pp. e0257535
Author(s):  
Max M. Owens ◽  
Alexandra Potter ◽  
Courtland S. Hyatt ◽  
Matthew Albaugh ◽  
Wesley K. Thompson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Effect Size ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Psychological Research ◽  
Sociodemographic Factors ◽  
Effect Sizes ◽  
Size Distributions ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Two Factors ◽  
Future Work ◽  
Effect Size Distribution

Effect sizes are commonly interpreted using heuristics established by Cohen (e.g., small: r = .1, medium r = .3, large r = .5), despite mounting evidence that these guidelines are mis-calibrated to the effects typically found in psychological research. This study’s aims were to 1) describe the distribution of effect sizes across multiple instruments, 2) consider factors qualifying the effect size distribution, and 3) identify examples as benchmarks for various effect sizes. For aim one, effect size distributions were illustrated from a large, diverse sample of 9/10-year-old children. This was done by conducting Pearson’s correlations among 161 variables representing constructs from all questionnaires and tasks from the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development Study® baseline data. To achieve aim two, factors qualifying this distribution were tested by comparing the distributions of effect size among various modifications of the aim one analyses. These modified analytic strategies included comparisons of effect size distributions for different types of variables, for analyses using statistical thresholds, and for analyses using several covariate strategies. In aim one analyses, the median in-sample effect size was .03, and values at the first and third quartiles were .01 and .07. In aim two analyses, effects were smaller for associations across instruments, content domains, and reporters, as well as when covarying for sociodemographic factors. Effect sizes were larger when thresholding for statistical significance. In analyses intended to mimic conditions used in “real-world” analysis of ABCD data, the median in-sample effect size was .05, and values at the first and third quartiles were .03 and .09. To achieve aim three, examples for varying effect sizes are reported from the ABCD dataset as benchmarks for future work in the dataset. In summary, this report finds that empirically determined effect sizes from a notably large dataset are smaller than would be expected based on existing heuristics.

Abstract 6: What Fundamental Factors Underlie Measures of Socio-Economic Status?

2011 ◽  
Vol 4 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Donna M Buchanan ◽  
Philip G Jones ◽  
Kymberley K Bennett ◽  
John A Spertus
Keyword(s):  
Factor Analysis ◽  
Efficient Method ◽  
Economic Status ◽  
Insurance Status ◽  
Median Income ◽  
Socio Economic Status ◽  
Two Factors ◽  
Assessment Techniques ◽  
Future Work ◽  
Zip Code

Background: Numerous studies have examined socio-economic (SES) disparities in cardiovascular outcomes. However, these studies often use different metrics to quantify SES (e.g. zip code, income, education, questionnaires). Consequently, the field suffers from the lack of a unifying conceptual model through which these different assessment techniques can be integrated. We sought to explore what fundamental factors may be present in a number of SES items collected within an MI registry. Methods: In the 19-center PREMIER registry of 2481 post-MI patients, we collected data on 9 items measuring different aspects of patients' SES and used exploratory factor analysis to identify underlying constructs measured by these items. Results: Two factors emerged (see figure), “general SES” (GSES) and “healthcare-related SES” (HSES), which explained 63% of the variability among the 9 items. Four items loaded on GSES, 6 loaded on HSES and one (end-of-month financial reserves) was shared by both factors. Although wide in range, all loadings were very strong and highly significant. There was a strong correlation between the 2 factors (r = .49). Conclusion: SES is primarily comprised of 2 distinct factors and different modes of assessing SES are variably associated with these constructs. The commonly used SES measures of zip code median income and insurance status had some of the weakest associations with these factors. Future work is needed to validate these factors, to correlate these with outcomes, and to define the most efficient method for measuring these factors so that researchers can more consistently explore SES disparities in outcomes and develop interventions to overcome them.

Frege on Singular Senses

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-24
Author(s):  
Marco Ruffino
Keyword(s):  
Definite Descriptions ◽  
Definite Article ◽  
Singular Terms ◽  
The Senses ◽  
Descriptive Sense

Abstract In this article the author discusses what seems to be a puzzle for Frege’s notion of singular senses (i.e., the senses of singular terms), in particular senses of definite descriptions. These senses are supposed to be complete (or saturated), but they are composed of the incomplete (unsaturated) senses of conceptual terms (i.e., conceptual senses). The author asks how the definite article (or what it expresses) transforms an unsaturated sense into a saturated one and reviews some attempted explanations in the literature. He argues that none of them is compatible with Frege’s views in semantics. Next, he discusses an alternative that Frege himself endorses and argues that it is also incompatible with his semantics. The author concludes that Frege has no coherent view on the senses of definite descriptions. If we assume that every name expresses a descriptive sense, then we must conclude that Frege has no coherent explanation for singular senses in general.

Skills for Future Work (H2030): Multigroup Analysis in Professional and Baccalaureate Training

2021 ◽  
pp. 104973152110026
Author(s):  
Ramón Chacón-Cuberos ◽  
Jorge Expósito-López ◽  
José Javier Romero-Díaz de la Guardia ◽  
Eva María Olmedo-Moreno
Keyword(s):  
New Media ◽  
Cognitive Skills ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Social Intelligence ◽  
Fit Indices ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Virtual Collaboration ◽  
Equation Analysis ◽  
Two Factors ◽  
Future Work

Purpose: This study sought to validate the Skills for Future Work Scale for its use with professional/vocational training (PT) and baccalaureate students. Methods: A total of 1,159 students were recruited. Structural equation analysis was performed using IBM Amos Graphics®. Results: Excellent fit indices were obtained, forming a final scale composed of nine indicators and two factors. The first dimension was associated with cognitive skills and adaptability, grouping together the skills of finding meaning, adaptable thinking, and understanding management. The second dimension comprises collaborative skills, as social intelligence and virtual collaboration. Discussion: Collaboration skills were more developed within those undertaking PT, while baccalaureate students had more strongly developed mastery over new media. This scale allows to know effectively the development of the work skills set by the European Union in the 2030 horizon. These findings contribute interesting data regarding the development of training strategies to support insertion into the job market.

scholarly journals Reanalyzing Definiteness in Bangla

2012 ◽  
Vol 38 ◽  
pp. 19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Priyanka Biswas
Keyword(s):  
Noun Phrase ◽  
Definite Descriptions ◽  
Linguistic Expression ◽  
Two Factors ◽  
Bare Nouns ◽  
The Cross ◽  
Selection Of

<p>Definite descriptions in Bangla are expressed via two morpho-syntactic patterns, namely the bare classifier and the bare noun, discussed in detail in Simpson et al. 2011. The bare classifier form consists of a noun phrase and a classifier without a numeral, syntactically derived by NP-movement across the classifier (“NP-raising”). In the bare noun form, there is no classifier or a numeral accompanying the NP. In this paper, I argue that two factors, “anaphoricity” and “uniqueness”, play important roles in the selection of the pattern of the definite expression in Bangla. The NP-raising structure is used exclusively in anaphoric contexts, and shows similar properties to “strong article” definites cross-linguistically (cf. Schwarz 2009). Uniqueness-based definites are expressed by bare nouns, which are otherwise similar in distribution to the “weak article” definites (Schwarz 2009). This paper contributes to our overall understanding of definiteness in Bangla, and of the cross-linguistic expression of anaphoricity and uniqueness aspects of definiteness.</p>

scholarly journals (De)accenting definite descriptions

2001 ◽  
Vol 23 ◽  
pp. 231-249
Author(s):  
Carla Umbach
Keyword(s):  
Definite Description ◽  
Definite Descriptions ◽  
Definite Article ◽  
Descriptive Content ◽  
Discourse Referent

This paper focuses on definite descriptions. It will be shown that a definite description refers to a given discourse referent if the descriptive content is completely deaccented. But if there is a focussed element within the descriptive content it introduces a novel referent. This amounts to allowing two readings for definite descriptions without, however, allowing two readings for the definite article.  

scholarly journals English article usage as a window on the meanings ofsame,identicalandsimilar

2016 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 295-313 ◽  
Author(s):  
LUNA FILIPOVIĆ ◽  
JOHN A. HAWKINS
Keyword(s):  
Real World ◽  
Fundamental Difference ◽  
Definite Descriptions ◽  
Definite Article ◽  
Partial Property ◽  
Article Usage ◽  
Pragmatic Equivalence

We propose an explanation for a traditional puzzle in English linguistics involving the use of articles with the nominal modifierssame,identicalandsimilar.Samecan only take the definite articlethe, whereasidenticalandsimilartake eithertheora. We argue that there is a fundamental difference in the manner in which a comparison is made with these modifiers.Identicalandsimilarinvolve direct comparisons between at least two entities and an assertion of either full property matching (identical), or partial property matching (similar). The comparison withsameproceeds differently: what is compared is not linguistic entities directly, but definite descriptions of these entities that can be derived through logical entailments.John and Mary live in the same houseentailsthe house that John lives in is the (same) house that Mary lives in. There must be a pragmatic equivalence between these entailed definite descriptions, ranging from full referential equivalence to a possibly quite minimal overlap in semantic and real-world properties shared by distinct referents. These differences in meaning and article co-occurrence reveal the sensitivity of syntax to semantic and pragmatic properties, without which all and only the grammatical sentences of a language cannot be predicted.

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