normreferential

Normreferential is an adjective used in linguistics and philosophy of language to describe theories or phenomena in which the reference of a term is determined by normative conventions or social practices within a speech community. The term is not widely standardized and may appear in discussions as norm-referential or in the context of normativity-based reference.

In theoretical discussions, normreferential accounts contrast with purely causal or descriptive theories of reference. They propose that how a term picks out its object depends, at least in part, on shared norms about correct usage, classification, or evaluation within a community. These norms can be linguistic (rules of usage and conventional meaning) or institutional (professional or legal definitions that fix how terms should be applied). Under normreferential frameworks, reference might be stabilized by agreements, practices, or normative standards rather than by causal contact with the world or by non-normative descriptions alone.

Applications of normreferential ideas often appear in analyses of proper names, scientific terms, or legally defined terms, where the referent is shaped by accepted conventions, nomenclatural codes, or regulatory definitions. They are also discussed in debates about the role of social practices in meaning and reference, especially in cross-cultural or institutional contexts where norms vary.

Critics of normreferential approaches warn that norms can be divergent, changing, or ambiguous, which may threaten the stability of reference. They argue that any account must account for how communities coordinate meaning despite such variation, and how reference can be robust across shifts in normative standards.

See also: referential theory of meaning, descriptive theory of reference, causal theory of reference, normative semantics, philosophy of language.