Definition
A range of reference is a collection of all possible entities in the referential realm denoted by a lexical unit.
Examples
Here are examples of the word wrist in three languages, illustrating different ranges of reference in each language:
|
Language |
Lexical unit |
Range of reference |
English |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Hebrew |
yad |
The part of the body from the fingertips to the wrist, sometimes including part of the forearm (in Genesis 24:47) |
wrist, hand, forearm |
|
Tuwali Ifugao |
takle |
The part of the body from the fingertips to the joint at the shoulder |
wrist, hand, arm |
|
English |
wrist |
The joint or part of the arm between the hand and the forearm |
|
Non-examples
Here are some other terms that may be confused with the term range of reference:
- Referent identification—the association of words, expressions or morphemes in a text with a particular participant or object
- Range of meaning—the different senses (lexical units) of a lexeme