The Meaning and Semantics of Singular Definite Noun Phrases

In my dissertation I develop a uniform, purely-referential account of all singular definite noun phrases. The first chapter argues that names, pronouns and definite description are used to accomplish a single communicative function: namely, to convey the identity of the entity to which they refer. The differences between these three types of singular definite noun phrase is attributed to the different communicative contexts in which they are used. The second chapter extends the account of the first chapter to generic, predicational, and so-called narrow-scope definite descriptions. The view defended is that generic, narrow-scope and predicational uses of definite descriptions refer to kinds, which have as members the individuals referred to by specific uses. The third chapter applies the theory of definite noun phrases developed in the first two chapters to the semantics of indirect discourse. Once the semantics of definite noun phrases in simple sentences is properly understood, indirect discourse poses no new obstacles to a purely referential semantics.