Self-reference
in arithmetical and natural language
Linguistische Arbeiten 294, pp.491-495,
Max Niemeyer Verlag, Tübingen 1993
Arithmetical self-reference can be compared with the possibilities
for self-reference in ordinary language in the sequence
- demonstrative (I)
- proper name (Achilles)
- description (son of Pelleius)
Arithmetical self-reference is seen to combine features of (1) and
(3): it is comparable to the self-reference of Achilles when he
refers to himself as 'I, son of Pelleius'. More importantly,
arithmetical self-reference features a similar reference to
the process of sentence production as is involved in
the semantics of indexicals.