@article{ab4ee32a62cd4238af9d2769a6deff02,
title = "Definite descriptions and semantic memory",
abstract = "Subjects were exposed to sentences containing {"}direct{"} and {"}indirect{"} uses of names and definite descriptions. On a subsequent recognition test incorrect rejections tended to be of sentences involving indirect uses, and false alarms to sentences involving direct uses. This finding is contrary to the predictions of models that suggest indiscriminate substitution of names for descriptions, as do those of Anderson and Bower, and Rumelhart and Norman. The implication is that models of semantic memory must incorporate distinct intensional and extensional representations to avoid semantic distortion.",
author = "Andrew Ortony and Anderson, {Richard C.}",
note = "Funding Information: A definite description is a phrase which purports to uniquely identify or refer to an entity, as does, for example, The first president of the United States. A complete psychological theory of semantic memory must face the problem of how propositions involving definite descriptions are to be represented. Such expressions have been discussed by Anderson and Bower (1973), who stated: One of the more interesting features of our simulation program is the way in which it treats definite descriptions. Suppose that the parser encountered an input sentence such as {"}The f'trst President of the United States was a good husband.{"} It would take the definite description {"}X was the first President of the United States,{"} match that to memory, determine that X is George Washington, and then encode in memory that{"} George Washington was a good husband.{"} Thus, no record would be left in HAM's memory to the effect that the assertion had been made using a definite description rather than a proper name. (p. 248) One of the reasons why Anderson and Bower think the matter of definite descriptions is interesting and important is that they believe this same procedure of substitutions underlies visual recognition as well. Rumelhart and Norman (1973) distinguish an occurrence of a definite *This work was supported in part by the National Institute of Education, under contract HEW NIE-G-74-0007. Reprints may be obtained from Professor Andrew Ortony, University of Illinois at Urbana, 1005 W. Nevada, Urbana, I11. 61801.",
year = "1977",
month = jan,
doi = "10.1016/S0364-0213(77)80005-0",
language = "English (US)",
volume = "1",
pages = "74--83",
journal = "Cognitive Science",
issn = "0364-0213",
publisher = "Wiley-Blackwell",
number = "1",
}