Forms of Context-Sensitivity 2

FORMS OF CONTEXT-SENSITIVITY 2

April 14, 2026

University of Porto, Institute of Philosophy, Via Panorâmica s/n 4150-564 Porto, Sala de Reuniões 2

https://ifilosofia.up.pt/activities/forms-context-sensitivity-2

DESCRIPTION

Many (if not most) expressions in natural languages are context-sensitive, at least in the sense that the same sentences comprising them, when uttered in different contexts, can intuitively have different truth values. There are many ways in which this phenomenon can come about. The meaning of many context-sensitive expressions depends on the context in which they are uttered. Thus, one of the most common forms of context-sensitivity is indexicality: the meaning of expressions such as "I", "here", "now" etc. depends on the speaker's situation. Other expressions are dependent on less objective contextual factors, such as the speakers' beliefs, intentions or preferences. Another source of this form of context-sensitivity comes from the presuppositions the relevant expressions trigger. Finally, many expressions are said to be polysemous, with the exact meaning of a word in certain context being determined by pragmatic mechanisms. But there are other ways in which the context-sensitivity mentioned can manifest. For example, it has been contended that the meaning of certain expressions  - and hence the truth value of the sentences in which they occur - depends on the content in which they are assessed.

In this second workshop, we explore some of these forms of context-sensitivity, in relation to various natural language expressions. We address questions such as what is the difference between expressivsm and relativism, what are communicative intentions, whether normative considerations should play a role in semantic theorizing, what is the best account of dogwhitles, etc. - as well as various crucial details that arise in connection to these questions.

ORGANIZATION

The workshop is organized by Dan Zeman and Alba Moreno Zurita.

PROGRAM

13.50: Welcome

14.00-14.50: Eliot Michaelson & Henry Schiller (King's College London), "What are Communicative Intentions?"

15.00-15.50: Tamara Dobler (Free University of Amsterdam), "Which Game Are You Playing? Occasion-sensitivity and Gender Terms"

coffee break

16.10-17.00: Dan Zeman (University of Porto), "An Assessment-Sensitivity Account of Dogwhistles"

17.10-18.00: Eduardo Perez Navarro (University of Santiago de Compostela), "On the Relation between Relativism and Expressivism".

For more information, including the abstracts of th talks, visit https://ifilosofia.up.pt/activities/forms-context-sensitivity-2. If you want to participate, please write an email to [email protected].