reference indeterminacy

Reference indeterminacy occurs when a word or phrase doesn't point to a specific, clear object or concept, making its meaning uncertain. For example, a term like "the current king of France" is problematic because there is no current king, so the phrase doesn’t reliably refer to anything. This uncertainty affects how language communicates ideas clearly. In essence, reference indeterminacy highlights situations where language fails to identify a unique or real entity, leading to ambiguity and challenges in understanding or analyzing statements.