A Referential Study On The Reference Of Third-Person Pronouns In Context

The issue of the relationship between language and reality is the basic problem in the study of Language Philosophy. What the referential theory discusses is just a special case of this problem--the relationship between words and their referents. Since context exists in any form of human communication, the studies on reference cannot be separated from context.At the present time, many scholars abroad and at home have studied the referential theory and context theory deeply. Based on the scholars'studies, this paper puts emphasis on the reference of third-person pronouns. On the basis of the studies about context by the scholars, this paper categorizes context and expounds the functions of context, attempting to probe into the definiteness of the reference of third-person pronouns in different kinds of context.In linguistic context, the endophora of third-person pronouns can be solved, that is, anaphora and cataphora. Both anaphora and cataphora of third-person pronouns in linguistic context have a premise: there must be their antecedent in a discourse. This common premise also gives their shortcomings. If there isn't their antecedent in a discourse, the anaphora or cataphora cannot be successful. In this case, we need find new angles to study the issue of reference. Thus, situational context, cultural context and cognitive context are introduced. In situational context and cultural context, the exophora of third-person pronouns can be settled. The change of the components of situational context will lead to the change of the referents of third-person pronouns. In cognitive context, the exophora of third-person pronouns and anaphora that cannot be solved in linguistic context can be resolved. In cognitive context, the antecedents of third-person pronouns have become prominent entities in the mental representation of speakers and addressees.Through the analyses of the reference of third-person pronouns from the dimension of linguistic context, the dimension of situational context, the dimension of cultural context and the dimension of cognitive context respectively, the author of this paper finds that context is indispensable to the definiteness of the reference of third-person pronouns. When dealing with the issue of the reference of third-person pronouns, it is suggested that the effect of linguistic context on the reference is firstly considered, that is, endophora is first considered. If the referents of third-person pronouns are not judged through anaphora or cataphora in linguistic context, we should consider adding situational, cultural or cognitive elements. Thus we can succeed in judging the referents of third-person pronouns.