referentspecific

Referent-specific is a term used in linguistics and philosophy of language to describe expressions whose interpretation is anchored to a particular entity in the discourse or the world. A referent-specific reading fixes a unique referent, as opposed to readings in which the referent is left underspecified or generic. The concept helps distinguish how certain noun phrases, pronouns, and demonstratives acquire precise reference depending on context.

In practice, referent specificity arises when discourse context, world knowledge, or salience identifies a single intended referent. Definite descriptions (the book on the table), demonstratives (this chair), and certain relative clauses (the man who won the race) can yield referent-specific readings when there is a uniquely identifiable entity in view. Pronouns also often carry referent-specific interpretations anchored to a previously established antecedent.

The idea is closely related to the de re versus de dicto distinction in philosophy of language. A de re (referent) reading ties the expression to a fixed object in the world, independent of how it is described; a de dicto reading ties reference to the description itself. Referent specificity thus sits at the intersection of syntax, semantics, and pragmatics, reflecting how speakers use context to fix reference.

Cross-linguistic and cognitive data indicate variation in how easily referent-specific readings are derived, influenced by discourse structure and memory. Some scholars treat referent specificity as a pragmatic effect of pointed context, while others analyze it within formal semantics and indexical theory.

See also: de re, indexicals, definite descriptions, pronouns.