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General Terms, Hybrid Theories and Ambiguity: A Discussion of Some Experimental Results
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In this paper I examine two sets of experimental results about the semantics
of general terms, by Genone and Lombrozo (2012) and by Nichols, Pinillos
and Mallon (forthcoming).
The results of the two experimental studies allegedly reveal significant
variations in semantic intuitions among participants as regards the correct
application of general terms. However, the two sets of authors propose two
entirely different semantic treatments of general terms in order to explain the
significance and the impact of those results. Genone and Lombrozo espouse
a hybrid semantics whereas Nichols, Pinillos and Mallon are inclined towards
an explanation that appeals to ambiguity.
I will cast some doubts on the coherence of a hybrid theory and argue
in favor of the ambiguity approach. Nevertheless, I will argue that the sort of
ambiguitiy Nichols, Pinillos and Mallon postulate is easy to incorporate to (and
is in fact already contemplated by) non-descriptivist approaches to the
semantics of general, as well as singular, terms.
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MARTÍ, Genoveva. General Terms, Hybrid Theories and Ambiguity: A Discussion of Some Experimental Results. Capítol 8 del llibre: Jussi Haukioja (ed). 2015. Advances in Experimental Philosophy of Language. Bloomsbury Academic. ISBN: 978-1-4742-1981-5. DOI: 10.5040/97814742198152. pp: 157–172. [consulted: 5 of October of 2026]. Available at: https://hdl.handle.net/2445/165619