Reference and the true value of clauses NPr be NPp

Abstract

The analysis of declarative sentences containing the underlying proposition NPr equals NPp is performed. In sentences of this type the discourse value NPp, which expresses the subject of utterance and contains performative illocutionary potential, is presented as being equivalent to the value NPr, which represents the actual state of affairs. Due to apparent equivalence of two discourse values with a different kind of illocutionary force and different reference the speaker's subjective point of view is presented as part of the actual state of affairs. Clauses with the same structure in scientific discourse, on the other hand, allows us to perceive a non-linguistic antity with the linguistic means. Thus the linguistic structure of NPr be NPp clauses meets both fundamental human intentions and makes it possible for us to escape from the state of unperceptiveness and passivity.