A distinction associated with use theories of meaning.
De facto theories give the meaning of a word in terms of how it is actually used; de jure theories give it in terms of how it should be used, or of rules for its use, claiming that actual usage may be incorrect.
Source:
L J Cohen, The Diversity of Meaning (1962, revised 1966), ch. 2
Table of Contents
- use theories of meaning
- causal theories of meaning
- naming theories of meaning
- correspondence or relational theories of meaning
- ideational theories of meaning
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