ABSTRACT
Underpinning a great deal of communication are references to people, in which speakers use a referring expression to clarify which individuals they mean. In doing so, they must select an expression that is not only grammatically and semantically permissible but is also pragmatically appropriate for various aspects of the discourse context. This chapter explains Accessibility Theory (AT) as its key linguistic framework. The key idea behind the AT model is of a hierarchical arrangement of noun phrase types that maps to a hierarchy of accessibility. A number of studies have reported findings relevant to the developmental trajectory of second language reference, typically through cross-sectional studies comparing features of reference by learners at different language levels. Under-explicitness, although most characteristic at lower levels, persists at higher levels mainly in relation to referent introductions and evidence to date from referent tracking relates mainly to the use of ø in place of pronouns.
