Referential Approach to word meaning study

Meaning in the Referential Approach.The referential approach distinguishes the three components closely connected with meaning: the sound-form of the linguistic sign, the concept underlying this sound-form, and the actual referent, i.e. that part of that aspect of reality to which the linguistic sign refers. The best known referential model of meaning is the “basic triangle”:

concept

sound-form referent

[dAv]

As can be seen from the diagram the sound-form of the linguistic sign, for example [dAv], is connected with the concept of the bird it denotes and through it with the referent, i.e. the actual bird. The sound-form of the word is not identical with its meaning, for example [dAv] is the sound form used to denote a grey bird. There is no innate connection between this particular sound sequence and the meaning of the word dove. The connection is conventional and accidental.

To distinguish meaning from the referent, i.e. from the thing denoted by the linguistic sign, is of great importance. Meaning is linguistic, whereas the referent is beyond the scope of language. We can denote one and the same object by more than one word of a different meaning. For example, in a speech situation an apple can be denoted by the words apple, fruit, something, this, etc. as all these words may have the same referent. Meaning cannot be equated with the actual properties of the referent, for example the meaning of the word water cannot be regarded as identical to its chemical formula H_²O as water means the same to all English speakers including those who have no idea of its chemical composition.

Some supporters of the referential approach substitute meaning for concept, others identify meaning with the referent. We have shown that meaning is closely connected but not identical with sound-form, concept or referent. Some linguists regard meaning as the interrelation of the three points of the triangle within the framework of the given language. Others proceed from the assumption that of the objectivity of language and meaning and understand a linguistic sign as a two-facet unit. They view meaning as a certain reflection in our mind of objects, phenomena or relations that makes part of the linguistic sign – its so-called inner facet, whereas the sound-form functions as its outer facet. Meaning is to be found in all linguistic units and together with their sound-form constitutes the linguistic signs studied by linguistic science.