Glossary term I

Inferable Entity

An inferable entity is a referent that may be inferred by the addressee from other information that has already been given.

(English)

  • I got on a bus yesterday and the driver was drunk.
  • In the above sentence, the mention of bus makes a driver inferable; a bus is assumed to have a driver. Thus the addressee may assume, without further specification from the speaker, that it is the driver of the bus who is spoken of.
  1. Prince 1981, 233, 236
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