Demonstratives, Direct Reference and Mental Models

Abstract

Kaplan has defined the meaning of demonstratives in terms of direct reference and de re propositions. This idea has been used by Kleiber to explain the uses of French demonstrative noun phrases as opposed to definite ones. However, a lot of sentences containing demonstrative noun phrases cannot be taken to express de re propositions if one accepts the plausible assumption that propositions expressed by speakers can only contain elements they can know. It is argued consequently that demonstrative noun phrases do not directly lead to the objects themselves that they refer to, but to the demonstratum