Descriptional anaphora in discourse representation theory

Abstract

Standard Discourse Representation Theory (DRT) was designed mainly to explain the so-called donkey-sentences. The pronouns plaYing such a prominent role in all these sentences belong, however, exclusively to one (partlculaPly simple) type of pronoun. We try to extend DRT in order to cover an equally Important type of pronoun, the so-called etdes0rIptlonal,* pronoun. Discourse referents ape now used Eo carry information on the intenslon of their referents as well as on the extenslon. This allows, at the same time. to suggest accessibility rules for Pronouns which are more appropriate than those suggested by traditional DRT. These new rules ape based on the generlcness of the sentences involved..