LINGUIST List 10.604

Tue Apr 27 1999

Sum: Hornstein's 'de se'

Editor for this issue: Jody Huellmantel <jodylinguistlist.org>

Directory

1. Ana Perez-Leroux, summary of 'de se' responses

Dear linguists,

In reference to my query on Hornstein's usage of the term 'de se', in
his article in Linguistic Inquiry early this year, I received responses 
from:

Donald Stahl <donaldstahlhotmail.com>
Cassian Braconnier <cassianworldnet.net>
Hornstein (via Mari Broman Olsen <molsenumiacs.umd.edu>, who kindly
					submitted the query to Hornstein)
Luis Fernando Alonso Ovalle & Alejandra Barriales Bouche
					<luisaloacad.umass.edu>

SUMMARY OF RESPONSES
- ------
The term was introduced by the philosopher David Lewis in a paper in
the Philosophical Review. It was coined in the context of the
philosophical terminology "de dicto" and "de re." "De dicto" (or
dictu) means relying on the words used to convey a bit of information
as opposed to relying only upon the thing spoken of for the
statement's truth or falsity. E.g., 'It is possible that the Morning
Star is not the Evening Star.' is true de dicto, but not de re.

"De se" is supposed to mean that the statement's truth value depends
upon the speaker only (I think).
- ----------
Read Higginbotham's paper in the Control volume for a long discussion
of 'de se' readings. N
- ---------
The use of the term 'de se' appears in a classic paper by Lewis [no
reference was provided], referring to a contrast with 'de re' readings.
Its integration in the semantics literature is mainly due to Chierchia's
work [no reference provided],and has had interesting implications for
temporal semantics.

[My translation & summary of original response]

Gratefully,
Ana Perez-Leroux

Ana Teresa Perez-Leroux
Assistant Professor of Spanish and Linguistics
Dept. of Spanish, Italian and Portuguese
The Pennsylvania State University
352 N.Burrowes Bldg.
University Park, PA 16802
tel: (814) 865-6252/ messages at 865-4252
Fax: (814) 863-7944