
The Referential Mechanism of Proper Names
Cross-cultural Investigations into Referential Intuitions
Jincai Li(Author)
Routledge (Publisher)
1st Edition
Published on 27. May 2024
Book
Paperback/Softback
178 pages
978-0-367-49772-9 (ISBN)
Description
Each of us bears a unique name given to us at birth. When people use your name, they typically refer to you. But what is the linkage that ties a name to a person and hence allows it to refer?
Li's book approaches this question of reference empirically through the medium of referential intuitions. Building on the literature on philosophical and linguistic intuitions, she proposes a linguistic-competence-based account of referential intuitions. Subsequently, using a series of novel experiments, she investigates the variation of referential intuitions across different cultures, as well as the developmental trajectory and the underlying causes of the observed cultural differences. What she finds is that the cultural patterns of referential intuitions are already in place around age seven, and the differences are largely attributable to the distinct perspective-taking strategies favoured by easterners and westerners, rather than the moral valence of actions involved in the experimental materials. These results are taken to better support referential pluralism (in particular, the ambiguous view) than referential monism.
By undertaking this fascinating research, Li's book provides new insights into the cognitive mechanism underlying people's referential usage of names. It will be valuable to students and scholars of linguistics, philosophy of language and experimental philosophy, and in particular, to those who research into semantic intuitions and theories of reference.
Li's book approaches this question of reference empirically through the medium of referential intuitions. Building on the literature on philosophical and linguistic intuitions, she proposes a linguistic-competence-based account of referential intuitions. Subsequently, using a series of novel experiments, she investigates the variation of referential intuitions across different cultures, as well as the developmental trajectory and the underlying causes of the observed cultural differences. What she finds is that the cultural patterns of referential intuitions are already in place around age seven, and the differences are largely attributable to the distinct perspective-taking strategies favoured by easterners and westerners, rather than the moral valence of actions involved in the experimental materials. These results are taken to better support referential pluralism (in particular, the ambiguous view) than referential monism.
By undertaking this fascinating research, Li's book provides new insights into the cognitive mechanism underlying people's referential usage of names. It will be valuable to students and scholars of linguistics, philosophy of language and experimental philosophy, and in particular, to those who research into semantic intuitions and theories of reference.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Target group
College/higher education
Postgraduate
Illustrations
10 s/w Tabellen, 11 s/w Abbildungen, 11 s/w Zeichnungen
10 Tables, black and white; 11 Line drawings, black and white; 11 Illustrations, black and white
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 156 mm
Thickness: 11 mm
Weight
301 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-367-49772-9 (9780367497729)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Jincai Li
The Referential Mechanism of Proper Names
Cross-cultural Investigations into Referential Intuitions
E-Book
09/2022
1st Edition
Routledge
€55.49
Available for download

Jincai Li
The Referential Mechanism of Proper Names
Cross-cultural Investigations into Referential Intuitions
Book
09/2022
1st Edition
Routledge
€206.00
Shipment within 15-20 days

Jincai Li
The Referential Mechanism of Proper Names
Cross-cultural Investigations into Referential Intuitions
E-Book
09/2022
1st Edition
Routledge
€55.49
Available for download
Person
Jincai Li is Lecturer in the Department of English at East China Normal University, China. Her research interests include experimental philosophy, experimental pragmatics, and experimental semantics. She has published in Cognition, Journal of Semantics and some prestigious Chinese journals.
Content
1. Introduction: Proper Names and Reference 2. Classical Theories of Reference of Proper Names 3. An Account of Referential Intuitions 4. The Cross-cultural Variation in Referential Intuitions 5. The Effects of Moral Valence on Referential Intuitions 6. The Effects of Perspective-taking on Referential Intuitions 7. Theorizing the Reference of Proper Names 8. Conclusions