Semantics

36 BASIC SEMANTICS
f) Can one talk of a long sentence?
Answers: a, yes; b, no; c, no; d, yes; e, no; f, yes.
By means of reference, Hurford & Heasley (1983) say that the
speaker indicates which things or entities in the world we are talking
about. Note the following examples adapted from the above-mentioned
authors.
1. What would be the referent of the phrase the present Head of the
Spanish Government
a) in 1995? ...........
b) in 2002? ...........
c) in 2005? ...........
2. Therefore we can say that the phrase the present Head of the Spanish
Government has
...........................................................................
3. What would be the sense of the phrase the Head of the Spanish
Government used in a conversation about
a) Spanish politics in 1992.
b) Spanish politics in 2000.
4. In the light of the preceding questions, the reference of an expression
vary according to
a) the circumstances (time, place, etc.) in which the expression is used
b) the topic of conversation in which the expression is used
c) both (a) and (b).
Key:
1. a) Felipe González
b) José María Aznar
d) Jose Luís Rodríguez Zapatero
2. reference.
3. a) see 1a.
b) see 1b
4. c