What is language?
What does this mean?
How do we distinguish between
language and non language?
• Language is rule governed
• Language is intended
• Language is creative and open
ended
Language is rule governed
Examples of rules………..
• Grammar
• Doesn’t matter what rules are so long as
everyone follows them.
Language is creative and openended
• The rules of grammar and vocabulary allow us
to make an almost infinite number of
grammatically correct sentences
• New words being invested all the time
• Think of newly invented words
ladettes
text
bumsters
metrosexual
The problem of meaning….
The montillation of traxoline
It is very important that you learn about Traxoline.
Traxoline is a new form of Zionter. It is montilled in
Ceristanna. The Ceristannians gristerate large
amounts of fevon and then bracter it into quasel
traxoline. Traxoline may well be one of our most
lukized snezlaus in the future because of our zionter
lescelidge.
The problem of meaning….
The montillation of traxoline
It is very important that you learn about Traxoline.
Traxoline is a new form of Zionter. It is montilled in
Ceristanna. The Ceristannians gristerate large
amounts of fevon and then bracter it into quasel
traxoline. Traxoline may well be one of our most
lukized snezlaus in the future because of our zionter
lescelidge.
1.
2.
3.
4.
What is traxoline?
Where is traxoline montilled?
How is traxoline quaselled?
Why is it important to know about traxoline?
• You can answer the questions although
you have no idea what the words mean!!
• If you don’t know the meaning of key
words in a sentence you will not
understand it.
• Traxoline is a new form of Zionter – do we
know this is true?
Important because you must know what
a sentence means before you can
decide whether or not it is true.
Theories of Meaning
Definition theory
Define as precisely as you can the following
3 words
i. Triangle
ii. Table iii. Love
Problems!
• Only mathematical words can be definded
precisely
• Definitions depend on using other words!
• In order to stop being trapped in an
endless circle of words, language must
surely connect with the world.
Denotation theory
• A meaningful words “stands” for
something, whereas a meaningless word
does not
France
Jabberwocky
Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:
All mimsy were the borograoves’
And the mome raths outgrabe.
Problems
• Can you think of words which would be
difficult to define by finding something they
“stand for”?
Problems
• Can you think of words which would be
difficult to define by finding something they
“stand for”?
• Multiplication, freedom, wisdom?
Problems!
• Denotation theory does not work with
abstract words
• Even a word like “Einstein” cannot literally
be Einstein because it would become
meaningless when he died.
Image Theory
• The meaning of a word is the mental
image it stands for
Freedom
Multiplication
Red
England
Physics
Love
Problems!
• We can never be sure that a person
understands the meaning of a word the
same we do if they may have a different
“image” in their mind
Meaning as know-how
• You know the meaning of a word when
you know how to use it correctly
Problematic meaning
1. Vagueness
Without thinking too much, write down a
figure for the following;
1. John lives near school. How close does
he live?
2. Janet is a heavy smoker. How many
cigarettes a day does she smoke?
3. Mr Smith is middle- aged. How old is he?
4. Nafisha’s mother is rich. How much
money does she have in the bank?
Bald?
2. Ambiguity
Flying planes can be dangerous
Ambiguity
They saw Mrs Jones and a dog sitting
under a table
Ambiguity
Bob tickled the man with a feather duster
Ambiguity
Refuse to be put in the basket
Ambiguity
Mia wanted to hear Justin Bieber sing
really badly
Ambiguity
Visiting relatives can be boring
Ambiguity
Many poor students are on scholarships
Ambiguity
• Michael ate bacon on the sofa
Ambiguity
As Imran came in to bowl I saw her duck
Ambiguity
I am opposed to taxes which damage
incentives
Context helps
They saw Mrs Jones and a dog sitting
under a table
3. Secondary meaning
• Connotations and euphemisms
First lady or “Presidential partner”?
First man?
Slender, skinny, thin
Stubborn, steadfast, firm
Praise, flatter, commend
Energetic, spirited, frenzied
Stench, smell, fragrance
Think of as many different
words as you can for;
Vomit
Think of as many different
words as you can for;
Drunk
Think of as many different
words as you can for;
Stupid
4. Metaphor
Azri has his head in the clouds
Emma has put her roots down in houston
My brother is a butcher
My dentist is a butcher
Explain the following;
“No man is an island” (John Donne, 15721631)
Explain the following;
“No man is a banana” (Richard van de
Lagemaat 1958-)
Fly and swim?
Translation
A world language?
What would be the advantages and
disadvantages if everyone in the world
spoke the same language?
“Who does not know another language does
not know his own” Goethe
What can you learn about your own
language by studying another? How does
learning another language increase your
knowledge of the world?
Idioms
A colloquial expression that can’t be
worked out from the meanings of the
words
Idioms
Idioms
Idioms