In six pages this paper presents an overview of various types of referents and issues associated with them. One source is cited in the bibliography.
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truth and knowledge. Bibliography lists 1 source. TLCrfrnt.rtf REFERENTS by (c) November 2001
paper properly! I. REFERENTS VS "LEVELS OF LANGUAGE"/REFERENTS & SYMBOLS VS INHERENT MEANING Establishing a working system of communication that provides every individual with the ability to convey thoughts
and information is not a feasible objective given the worlds myriad spoken languages. Ascertaining inherent meaning aside from referents and symbols is a significant task for two people who
do not speak the same tongue, inasmuch as the meaning of symbols and referents are nothing if not completely foreign to each persons level of comprehension. "...Many of the
great problems of man are a direct result of his not making clear what his referents are for the symbols he uses Much of mans progress has been slowed
down and his problems increased because of the use of symbols for which there were and are no verifiable referents." (Schievella 40-41). II. ROLE OF MIND IN DISTINGUISHING SYMBOLS
FROM REFERENTS The role of mind in distinguishing symbols from referents speaks to the separation within ones perception of a given word.
Primary to this concept is the fact that "in the presence of different minds, what is a symbol to one often is a referent to another, and an inference to
a third" (Schievella 37). That one individual can interpret a particular symbol as something specific while another regards it as a worthless notion is indicative of languages inability to
transcend the barriers that exist with regard to effective and adequate communication. The other mind concept has long intrigued philosophers and scientists alike,
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