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<Paper uid="C00-2112">
  <Title>Making Sense of Reference to the Unfamiliar</Title>
  <Section position="2" start_page="0" end_page="0" type="abstr">
    <SectionTitle>
Abstract
</SectionTitle>
    <Paragraph position="0"> C, omi)utational ai)proaches to reference resolution, like Centering Theory, are best at resolving referring expressions which denote familiar reD.rents. We demonstrate how, by t~king a proof-theoretic approach to reference resolution within a Centering-type framework, we are able to make sense of reti;rring expressions tbr unfamiliar referents. These include, in addition to bridging descriptions, definite descripl;ions like &amp;quot;the first man&amp;quot; and &amp;quot;the first snowdrops of Spring&amp;quot;. We claim that the first of these denotes a unique subset of a iflural discourse antecedent.</Paragraph>
    <Paragraph position="1"> While the second has no discourse antecedent, we similarly treat it as denoting a mfi(lue subset of a t'~nniliar referent.</Paragraph>
  </Section>
class="xml-element"></Paper>