Demonstratives have been considered as directly-referential expressions (Kaplan 1989; Perry 1993; Recanati 1993; Soames 2002). Demonstrative noun phrases have also been treated as definite descriptions whose rigidity is derived from the demonstration presupposition associated with them (Roberts 2002; Zeevat 1999). Most recently, from a dynamic point of view, these determiners have been analyzed as generalized-quantifiers functions that have an intermediate position between rigid designators and quantifiers (Gutiérrez-Rexach 2002).
According to recent studies, some languages vary in the way they encode demonstrative expressions, which results in a differential anaphoric and deictic system in each one of them. The demonstrative system of Spanish differs from that of English in that the presuppositions triggered and the (pre)conditions that establish the relevant perspective in both languages are not equivalent (Gutiérrez-Rexach 2005). Traditional analyses of the Spanish demonstrative system characterize it as a three-term system of determiners and pronouns (este-ese-aquel). In a recent study (Gutiérrez-Rexach 2005), this analysis has been challenged and, consequently, the tripartite system has been reduced to two basic terms: proximal (este) vs. distal (aquel), leaving ese as a ‘neutral term’ –either without proximity presupposition or as a substitute for este or aquel–.
When addressing the proper analysis of the semantics of demonstratives, it is evident that much more cross-linguistic work, both empirical and theoretical, needs to be done. This paper – following the preliminary results discussed in Gutiérrez-Rexach (2005)– is a description of an empirical study of the Spanish demonstrative NPs, both in oral and written discourse. Four types of deictic/anaphoric reference in Spanish demonstrative use are analyzed: general anaphora, visual deixis, abstract anaphora, and type anaphora. Special attention is given to the neutral term ese which in many contexts lacks the proximity presupposition and has only the demonstration presupposition.