The aim of this paper is to discuss the concepts of synonymy and reference as they are used in formal semantics and textual linguistics in order to verify the extent to which they may provide a link between the notions of denotative and textual meaning. The expressive function of reference, normally approached through its referencial role in the text, will also be discussed. A brief analysis of some examples of reference taken from a written text will illustrate some of the issues treated in the paper.
cohesion; lexis; reference; synonymy