The metaphysics of puns

The metaphysics of puns

In this paper, I aim to discuss what puns, metaphysically, are. I argue that the type-token view of words leads to an indeterminacy problem when we consider puns. I then outline an alternative account of puns, based on recent nominalist views of words, that does not suffer from this indeterminacy.

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Synthese (Dordrecht) Vol. 203; no. 5; p. 130
Main Author: Miller, JTM
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 18-04-2024
Springer Nature B.V
Subjects:
Ambiguity
Education
Epistemology
Humor
Language
Linguistics
Logic
Metaphysics
Original Research
Philosophy
Philosophy of Language
Philosophy of Science
Rhetoric
Word play
Puns
Indeterminacy
Type-token
Nominalism
Words
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Description
Summary:In this paper, I aim to discuss what puns, metaphysically, are. I argue that the type-token view of words leads to an indeterminacy problem when we consider puns. I then outline an alternative account of puns, based on recent nominalist views of words, that does not suffer from this indeterminacy.
ISSN:1573-0964
0039-7857
1573-0964
DOI:10.1007/s11229-024-04583-2