Referential Properties of Spanish Noun Phrases

Abstract

This article discusses two aspects of definite and indefinite NP's in the grammar of Spanish: SPECIFICITY, which is formally marked by the mood of restrictive relative clauses; and EXISTENTIAL IMPORT, which derives from the linguistic environment by principles connected with presuppositions in general. Specificity and existential import belong to the grammar of Spanish, not to the realm of pragmatics. In Spanish, Donnellan's referential descriptions constitute a sub-set of specific NP's (definite specific NP's in the singular with an existential presupposition determined by the linguistic environment). Attributive descriptions, on the other hand, are singular, definite, nonspecific NP's having an existential presupposition.

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