HOW REFERENCE OCCURS: WORDS, SENSES AND OBJECTS
A WORD W REFERS to an OBJECT O if W is conventionally associated
with SENSE S and S is a SENSE of O.
The word REFERS to whatever the SENSE determines.
Therefore, the SENSE mediates between the sign (word) and what the sign
(WORD) refers to.
SENSES AND WORDS
Words are connected with SENSES in a way that is different from how
OBJECTS are connected with SENSES. Words are associated with
senses purely by convention. For example, the fact that the word “star”
refers to a star (mediated by its sense) is a matter of convention.
The WORD REFERS to whatever the SENSE determines.
Each linguistic expression has both a SENSE and a REFERENCE.
Different words or phrases can have the same SENSE. (Plato, Platon)
The Fregean Model of Semantic Structure
Expressions types
Name
Sense
individual concept
Denotation
individuals
MARK TWAIN
AS FAMOUS
AUTHOR
MARK TWAIN
Sentences
proposition
truth value
Predicates
a function from
individual concepts
to propositions
functions from
individuals to
truth values
PROPOSITION
Russell
Contains actual individuals
Frege
contains senses of individuals