Pegs and Alecs

A major problem in semantics is the question how identity statements can be informative. To answer this question we have to determine what the status is of the objects that language users talk about when they exchange information. It is argued that the assumption of discourse representation theory, that these objects are variables in some representation, leads to problems. To cope with these problems, a theory of pegs is developed, partial objects at an intermediate level of information, to which the partial information states of language users ascribe properties, and that language users can keep track of in the process of information growth. Tiffs theory is applied to notorious problems of identity, like the morningstar-paradox, Kfipke's puzzle about belief, and the paradox of the hooded man. Within the theory of pegs, an analysis of donkey-sentences is given, that resembles the analysis of discourse representation theory, except that it is not based on variables. To this end, alecs are introduced, pegs which, relative to some information state, can play the role of all pegs with certain properties.