In search of a foundation: Towards a theory of the term

The major objection to a purely linguistic theory of terms stems from the fact that formally terms are indistinguishable from words. For a justification of terms as a distinct category of lexical items we have to look in two areas: (1) the things terms refer to and (2) the nature of this reference. An examination of some philosophical writings on the subject will lead to an attempt to explain the different nature of terms.