ABSTRACT
This chapter develops a theory of the referential meaning of English noun phrases containing the definite article. It argues the reason why definiteness and indefiniteness have the logical meanings they do is on account of their usage functions. It discusses the demonstratives and the logical aspects of meaning which emerges from the native speaker usage judgements. The relative clauses are 'referent-establishing relative clauses' since they can establish a definite referent for the hearer without the need for previous mention. The associative anaphora presupposes not just knowledge of some part-of relationship, it reflects also both the importance and the frequency of this part-of relationship. Finally it argues the referents of singular count nouns with the definite article are unique, whereas the referents of demonstrative expressions may or may not be. Summarising, a full account of native speaker intuitions must include speech act rules, appropriate usage rules, and rules linking surface forms to logical meaning.
