Reference
A reference is a relationship between
References can take on many forms, including: a thought, a sensory perception that is
References feature in many spheres of human activity and knowledge, and the term adopts shades of meaning particular to the contexts in which it is used. Some of them are described in the sections below.
Etymology and meanings
The word reference is derived from Middle English referren, from Middle French référer, from Latin referre, "to carry back", formed from the prefix re- and ferre, "to bear".[2] A number of words derive from the same root, including refer, referee, referential, referent, referendum.
The verb refer (to) and its derivatives may carry the sense of "connect to" or "link to", as in the meanings of reference described in this article. Another sense is "consult"; this is reflected in such expressions as
Semantics
In semantics, reference is generally construed as the relationships between nouns or pronouns and objects that are named by them. Hence, the word "John" refers to the person John. The word "it" refers to some previously specified object. The object referred to is called the referent of the word.[3] Sometimes the word-object relation is called "denotation"; the word denotes the object. The converse relation, the relation from object to word, is called "exemplification"; the object exemplifies what the word denotes. In syntactic analysis, if a word refers to a previous word, the previous word is called the "antecedent".
Meaning
Linguistic sign
The very concept of the
Computer science
In computer science, references are data types that refer to an object elsewhere in memory and are used to construct a wide variety of data structures, such as linked lists. Generally, a reference is a value that enables a program to directly access the particular data item. Most programming languages support some form of reference. For the specific type of reference used in the C++ language, see reference (C++).
The notion of reference is also important in relational database theory; see referential integrity.
Library and information sciences
References to many types of printed matter may come in an electronic or machine-readable form. For books, there exists the
Psychology
In terms of mental processing, a self-reference is used in psychology to establish identification with a mental state during self-analysis. This seeks to allow the individual to develop own frames of reference in a greater state of immediate awareness. However, it can also lead to circular reasoning, preventing evolution of thought.[4]
According to Perceptual Control Theory (PCT), a reference condition is the state toward which a control system's output tends to alter a controlled quantity. The main proposition is that "All behavior is oriented all of the time around the control of certain quantities with respect to specific reference conditions."[5]
Scholarship
In academics and scholarship, a reference or bibliographical reference is a piece of information provided in a
References are particularly important as for the use of citations, since copying of material by another author without proper reference and / or without required permissions is considered plagiarism, and may be tantamount to copyright infringement, which can be subject to legal proceedings. A reference section contains only those works indeed cited in the main text of a work. In contrast, a bibliographical section often contains works not cited by the author, but used as background reading or listed as potentially useful to the reader.
Keeping a diary allows an individual to use references for personal organization, whether or not anyone else understands the systems of reference used. However, scholars have studied methods of reference because of their key role in communication and co-operation between different people, and also because of misunderstandings that can arise. Modern academic study of bibliographical references has been developing since the 19th century.[6] [7]
Law
In
Arts
In art, a reference is an item from which a work is based. This may include:
- an existing artwork
- a reproduction (i.e., a photo)
- a directly observed object (e.g., a person)
- the artist's memory
Another example of reference is samples of various musical works being incorporated into a new one.
See also
- Antecedent (grammar)
- Exemplification
- Generic antecedent
- Hyperlink
- Indexicality
- ISO 690
- Recommendation letter
- Semiotics, the study of signs which communicate meaning
- Signified and signifier
- Supposition theory, medieval European theories of reference
References
- ISBN 9780823226849.
- ^ Klein, Ernest, A comprehensive etymological dictionary of the English language, Vol II, Elsevier publishing company, Amsterdam, 1969, p.1317
- ISBN 0-631-22693-1.
- ISBN 9780980731842.
- ^ Powers, William (2005). Behavior: The Control of Perception (2nd ed.). New Canaan, Connecticut: Benchmark Publications. pp. 47 & 299.
- ^ Reimer, Marga (2009). "Reference". Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
- ^ Easton, Monday (2012). "Reference". Christmas stamps and stickers.
External links
- Reference.com – a multi-source encyclopedia search service, and language reference products provider
- "Reference Resources". Yahoo! Directory.
- References.net – a directory of multidisciplinary reference resources on the web
- Refmuseum.com – The online museum of references