What Does That Mean?

The Challenges of Reference in a Holist Model of Language

Abstract

In this article, we examine anaphora and cataphora from the perspective of moderate meaning holism, with the aim of analyzing how reference is constructed in natural language, especially in cases where local interpretive methods prove insufficient. Drawing on selected examples from five languages, we argue that pronominal reference is not an isolated operation, but rather a process that depends on discourse, context, and the beliefs shared among speakers. In contrast to classical models of meaning composition—such as those proposed by Heim, Kamp, and Partee, which stabilize interpretation through coindexation or scope—we suggest a more flexible alternative: the moderate semantic holism developed by Jackman. This version of holism holds that meaning is not fixed within the sentence itself, but is constructed throughout discourse via dynamic networks of sense and rational expectations. From this perspective, anaphora and cataphora not only generate grammatical connections but also rely on distributed inferential processes. Our analysis concludes with a philosophical reflection that invites an expansion of the notion of meaning toward models that are sensitive to real language use, communicative cooperation, and shared linguistic practices.