referentsactual

Referentsactual is a neologism used in semantics and philosophy of language to denote the actual referent of a referring expression within a particular context. The term contrasts with the speaker's intended referent, the descriptive content associated with an expression, and the possible referents considered by semantic theories. In analyses of indexicals, demonstratives, or proper names, referentsactual identifies which object or entity the expression picks out in the real world or within the discourse at hand.

Usage and interpretation: In dynamic or contextual semantics, expressions may shift their referents across contexts. Referentsactual captures the end result of reference resolution in a given utterance, after considering discourse, world knowledge, and conversational implicatures. For example, in a narrative where several characters are present, a demonstrative like "this" selects a referentactual that depends on the speaker's and hearer's mutual knowledge at the moment.

Distinctions: The concept is distinct from referent (the general object the expression denotes) and from intended referent (what the speaker aims to refer to). It may also diverge from the descriptive content of the expression, particularly in cases of referential opacity or misidentification.

Relation to theory: Some researchers use referentsactual to discuss cases where identification fails or where multiple potential referents exist. Others prefer standard terms such as "actual referent" or "denotation in context." The term is not universally standardized and may appear chiefly in theoretical discussions or introductory overviews.

See also: reference, referent, denotation, indexical, demonstrative, context-dependence.