- Rule based (governed)
-Grammar (rules)
-Vocabulary
-Examples from Class:
- In English, Noun before Verb. In Korean, Verb before Noun.
-There is no "correct" word for dog; it's different in all languages.
-Intentional
-All language is communication but not all communication is language. Communication can happen but it can be misinterpreted, which is not language.
-Example from Class:
-Body Language can or cannot be language depending on whether there is intent to send a message.
-Open-Ended (Creative)
-Language evolves
-Examples from Class:
-Language evolves in form: from handwritten to blog
-Language evolves in the form of new words: -Elbow, -Muggle, -Obscene, -Hoodie, -Kindergarten
Theories of Meaning
2. Definition Theory: A word has to have a definition to it, that you can look up in the dictionary.
-Examples from Class:
-Triangle (a strength of this word was that, through the definition we could draw it.)
-Table
-Desk
-Love (a weakness of this word is that it is more of an idea than an object like "triangle," so it's definition gets more complex and circular [From Love-> Profound<->Deep])
3. Denotation Theory: The Literal meaning of the word. Meaningful words are distinguished from non-meaningful words.
-Examples from Class:
-France:
-A place/country in between Spain and Germany and it borders the Pyrennes and the Atlantic.
-Gamazi:
-It means nothing, it has no meaning to us; random, made-up by Mr. Steedman.
-Hitler:
-dictator, killed people. "a bad bad man," which refers to a specific idea (which sometimes comes from being famous or infamous), but when it's used as "he's another Hitler," it's not the literal meaning.
-November 27, 2008 in Mumbai, India: That was "their 9/11." The use of the American tragedy, September 11, 2001 or 9/11, has become a term.
-Freedom:
-Harder to denote because it's an idea, not a physical object.
4. Image Theory: The meaning of a word lends a mental image. The image depends on the context.
-Examples from Class:
-Freedom:
-An eagle, a flag, the Statue of Liberty
-Tree:
-brown bark, green leaves (often the image of a child's drawing of a tree in conjured)
-Question about Image Theory: How do we understand the meaning of another person's word? What if we don't have the same mental image?
-My answer: If possible ask for explanation, description, and/or conformation of the same image.
Problems with Language
5. Vagueness-No clear or descriptive meaning. The vagueness of a word or statement depends on the context.
-Examples from Class:
-Slow, fast close, a lot, bald
There are disadvantages, such as not knowing exactly what one means, but vague words can also be useful, especially in generalization. It is impossible to make words completely precise.
6. Ambiguity- Words have more than one meaning, but how they are interpreted depends on the context.
-Example from Class:
-"The Duchess cannot bear children." This can be taken to mean that she cannot give birth to children, or that she despises children.
7. Second Meaning (i. e. denotation, connotation, and euphemisms)
-Denotation: "the explicit or direct meaning of a word or set of words."
-Example from Class: see the Number 6 example.
-Connotation: "The associated or second meaning of a word or expression, in addition to its explicit, or primary meaning.
-Example from Class: none given.
- Example: Home, in addition to meaning, the place where one lives, can also have second meaning in that it is the place where one often feels comfortable, surrounded by friendliness and affection.
-Euphemism:"the substitution of a mild, indirect, or vague expression for one thought to be offensive, harsh or blunt."
-Example from Class: none given.
-Example: Someone who has died is often said to have "passed away." This phrase is usually used in delivering the news of death so as to soften the blow.
8. Metaphor: A phrase used to compare two things without using "like" or "as."
-Example from Class: none given.
-Example: "You are ice cold." The speaker is comparing one's warmth to ice, without using like or as.
9. Irony: "The use of words to convey a meaning opposite of its literal meaning."
-Example from Class: Sarcasm
-A more specific example:"a free ride when you've already paid."
Problems with Translations
10. Untranslatable Words: Some words that are so complex that the can't be understood in a different language, so that a phrase is needed.
-Examples from Class:
-Mamihlapinatapi (Terra del Fuegan)-to look at each other hoping that the other will offer to do something that both parties greatly desire, but neither is willing to do.
- Aware (Japenese)-femoral beauty
11. Idioms: Colloquialisms (Common phrases, better used in speech in one language, than in writing.)
-Examples from Class:
-Beat around the Bush
- The French: "Don't sell me onions," translates to the English: "Mind your own business," but if translated back to French, is "Go attend to your own affairs, your own matters," and the wittiness of the original idiom is lost.
12. Labels- Something marked, physically or verbally, to differentiate, or to organize.
-Example from Class: For differentiate
-to show accomplishment and/ or responsibility: Harry Potter's Scar.
-Examples from Class: For organization
-Groups: Non-fiction books vs. Fiction books
-To help get us through the day: "This is my Physics book, and it goes before my French book, because I have Physics and then French."
-Problems with Labels: they usually generalize, which can be problematic.
13. Stereotypes- "a set form; convention." Stereotypes are much like labels.
-Example from Class: In class, stereotypes were briefly mentioned stating that they were much like labels: to differentiate, and to sometimes show organization.
-Examples: "She wears dark lipstick, dyed her hair black, wears dark and heavy eyeliner, and wears only black clothing, so she must be a goth, so she belongs over there, at the goth lunch table."
14. Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis: Language determines our experience of reality. Linguistic Determination.
-Examples from Class:
-For the hypothesis the Hopi Indians were studied, and it was found that they had no words for time: past, present or future, nor past or future tenses.
-Pol Pat-1920s Cambodia and the Year Zero
-Peter Farm tested housewives by asking them the same questions in 2 different languages. The answers in both languages differed. Does this show that thought occurs before language?
Emotionally Laden Language
15. Emotive meaning: certain words evoke certain emotions.
-Examples from class:
-1st class/ 2nd Class vs. Business/Coach
-Gassy water
-Tax Hike vs. Stimulus Plan
16. Weasel Words: vague words, they can't be pinned down.
-Examples from class:
-"tomorrow," "soon," "later," "probably"
17. Grammar: Semantics of language, using it in sentence structure to reveal and conceal.
-Examples from Class:
-See number 18
18. Revealing and Concealing: Certain words which evoke emotion, can conceal meaning, or reveal it.
-Examples from class:
-The village was bombed. --> more tragedy
-We bombed village.-->either prideful or regretful, has more of a patriotic tone.
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