UNIT ONE
HIT THE NAIL ON
THE HEAD
AN INTRODUCTION
LEARNING OBJECTIVE
• to build up the sense of style of
language
• to realize language as a mirror of
thought
• to be sensitive enough to choose the
right word to express our ideas
accurately.
The Main Points Discussed in
the Text
1. The passage begins with an analogy
to illustrate the similarities between
how to drive a nail home and how to
use exact English words. In this way
the
author
dramatizes
the
importance of choosing the right
word for one’s purpose.
2.The double function of the
correct choice of words;
3.Semantic differences between
words of the same root;
4. Wrong choice of words caused by
failure
to
recognize
their
connotations;
5.Stylistic
differences
between
synonyms;
6. Words of uniquely cultural load;
7.The
abundance of specific words
in English for general notions;
8.An emphasis on quality rather
than quantity in the mastery of
words.
ANALOGY
• What is analogy?
• Analogy is a form of
comparison which draws a
parallel between two unlike
things that have several
common qualities or points
of resemblance.
• What is analogy used for?
• It is chiefly used for the
purpose of persuasion or
for the explanation of an
idea.
• e.g.
The chess-board is the world;
the pieces are the phenomena of
the universe; the rules of the
game are what we call the laws
of nature. (Thomas Henry
Huxley)
STYLE
• What is style?
• Style is the way something is
said or done, as distinguished
from its substance. In writing
substance means what is said-- the message or content.
• e.g.
• Charger/ steed (formal)
• Nag/ plug (informal)
• Horse (general or
neutral)
• Domicile (very formal)
• Residence (formal)
• Abode (poetic/formal)
• Home (general / neutral)
TYPES OF WORD
MEANING
1. Denotative (conceptual) : e.g.
mother= female parent
2. Connotative( associations
suggested by the conceptual
meaning) : e.g. “Mother” may
suggest “care”, “ love” ,
“concern”,etc.
3. Affective (indicating the speaker’s
attitude towards the person or thing
in question) : e.g.
famous (appreciative)/ notorious
(pejorative)
slender (appreciative)/ skinny
(pejorative)
THE ANALYSIS OF THE
TEXT
• Preview Question:
• What is the main message of the
1st para.?
• An analogy is used to establish
the connection between the
driving of a nail into the wood
and the choice of a word.
1st Paragraph
*
What is the difference
between the two
phrases “drive home”
used in Line 3 and
Line5?
1) drive home
a)force sth into the right
place
b)express one’s ideas
accurately
2) so with language
This is an ellipsis of “ so it is
with language”, meaning “it
is also true/ the same with
language”.
* What is the function of this
phrase in this statement?
• Make a comment on the use
of the following words: (Lines
6 &7)
• more or less, loose,
ambiguous, vague
Paragraphs 2&3
•These two paragraphs
discuss the double
function of the correct
choice of words.
3) Stories are told of
according to legend or
stories; It is said that; They
say
4) Flaubert
Gustave Flaubert (1821 – 1880)
• French novelist who is counted
among the greatest Western
novelists, known especially for his
first published novel Madame
Bovary, and for his scrupulous
devotion to his art and style, best
exemplified by his endless search for
the precise word.
5) shades of meaning
slight differences in meaning
shade:
a) a slight amount or degree of
difference (e.g. The new model is a
shade better than the old one.)
b) a subtle difference in meaning or
opinion or attitude (e.g. Don't
argue about shades of meaning.)
6) wide vocabulary
c.f. big/ huge/ superb/
abundant/ vocabulary/
fair / rich vocabulary;
small/limited/ meager /
poor vocabulary
Paragraphs 4-7
•These paragraphs
treat of semantic
differences between
words having the
same root or origin.
7) human, humane
human adj. of or typical of people:
> The human body is composed of
about 60% water.
> Early human remains were found in
the Dordogne region of France.
> Victory in the war was achieved at
the cost of great human suffering.
humane adj. showing
kindness, care and sympathy
towards others, especially those
who are suffering:
> The humane way of dealing
with a suffering animal is to kill
it quickly.
8) far afield
• from a long way; at a
distance; far away:
> The two groups came as
far afield as Canada.
9) Bad Carpentry
* Is
the phrase used in denotative
or connotative sense in this
statement?
bad carpentry in language: poor
mastery or command in
language
10) malapropism
• A malapropism is an incorrect usage
of a word, usually with comic effect.
The term comes from the name of
Mrs. Malaprop, a character in Richard
Brinsley Sheridan's comedy, The
Rivals (1775).
• Here are some examples from her dialogue:
> "He's as headstrong as an allegory on
the banks of the Nile." (i.e., alligator)
> "He is the very pineapple of politeness."
(i.e., pinnacle)
> "Then he lay prostate on the ground."
(i.e., prostrate)
Paragraph 8
•This paragraph is mainly
concerned with the
wrong choice of words
caused by failure to
recognize their
connotations.
11) Imprisonment /
distillation
• Imprisonment : (literal sense) putting
someone in prison or in jail as lawful
punishment
(figurative sense): penalty,
force,coercion
• Distillation: (literal sense) the
process of purifying a liquid by
boiling it and condensing its vapors
(figurative sense) getting or showing only
the most important part of something
essence
Paragraph 9
• This paragraph is devoted
to stylistic differences
between synonyms.
12) Stylistic differences
e.g.
a) Tom was so tired that he went to
bed early.
b) Feeling fatigued , Tom retired
early.
c) Tom was dog-tired, so he hit the
sack early.
Arranged in order of degree of
formality
*** most formal : b)
** moderately formal: a)
*
least formal: c)
Paragraph 10
• This paragraph discusses the
richness of specific words for
general notions.
• General notions
terms
• Specific terms
terms
upper
lower
Hyponymy
• Upper terms( e.g. animal)
• Lower terms(e.g. pig, dog)
• Lower terms(e.g. swine, hound)
Paragraph 11
• Question:
• Can you find out the analogy
used in this paragraph?
• Why does the author use the
analogy again?
The End