What is a referent?

Introduction
	Words are used to represent things and experiences in the real or imagined world. Different words can be used to describe the same thing or experience.

Definition
	A referent is the concrete object or concept that is designated by a word or expression. A referent is an object, action, state, relationship, or attribute in the referential realm.

Example
	Historically, there was only one person called George Washington, the first president of the United States. He can be referred to in a text in many ways, such as
	the president Mr. Washington he, or even my friend.
	Even though there are many ways to talk about him, there is only one referent in the referential realm.

Sources
	Crystal 1985 259–260
	Hartmann and Stork 1972 193
	Pei and Gaynor 1954 184
	Foley, W. and Van Valin 1985 283
	Mish 1991 989

Context for this page:

Concept module: referent
In overview module: Glossary (Linguistics): R
In modular book: Glossary of linguistic terms, by Eugene E. Loos (general editor), Susan Anderson (editor), Dwight H., Day, Jr. (editor), Paul C. Jordan (editor), and J. Douglas Wingate (editor)
In bookshelf: Linguistics

This page is an extract from the LinguaLinks Library, Version 5.0 published on CD-ROM by SIL International, 2003. [Ordering information.]

Page content last modified: 29 January 2004

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