chapter 8 meaning and context

8.2 the role of context

1) elimination of ambiguity 2) indication of referents 3) provision of clues for inference of word meaning

0404 Season

2.Indication of referents

English has lots of deictic words.

Personal deictics: I, me, she, your, they etc.

Spatial deictics: this, that, these, there, here etc.

Temporal deictics: then, now, today, yesterday etc.

Definiteness: the , this, that, personal pronouns.

The context is very important to those deictic words. Without the clear context, the reference can be

very confusing. e.g.

1) Betty told Mary that Alice was angry.

2) a) She said it secretly.

b) But she didn’t believe her.

c) But she wasn’t angry.

3. provision of clues for inference

of word meaning Context may exceptionally valuable in guessing the meaning of new word.

Context clues vary a great deal but can be summed up as follows:

1)Definition 2)Exemplification 3)Explanation 4)Synonymy 5)Antonymy 6)Hyponymy 7)Cause and Effect 8)Relevant details 9)Word formation

1. Definition:     Often the author gives formal definition after the new terms, especially the technical terms.

The easiest way to guess the meaning of an unknown word is by looking at “definition” .

The signal words:verb “to be” means / mean….. that is ….. to be called refer to …… to be said to punctuation marks such as - , ; : ( )

Examples:

1) A disease that can be spread from one person to another is said to be contagious.

2) To dribble a ball is to bounce it along with one hand.

2. Explanation

If the concept is complicated and involves

technical terms, the author may explain it in

simple words.

The signal words: or, that is, in other words, that is to say, punctuation marks such as - , ; : ( ) adjective clauses beginning with – who, which, where, what, and that.

Examples:

1)The perimeter, or the distance around the circle, is six meters.

2) Mrs. Miller loved the tranquility, the peace and quietness, after everybody had gone to work.

3) Smith was a racist, who believed his race was better than the others.

3. Exemplification

The author may cite an example which is sufficient to throw light on the meaning of the term.

The signal words:

Such as , For instance , For example , Like , Especially , Including ,

Punctuation marks such as - , ; : ( )

Examples:

1) We are interested in learning to play stringed

instruments, like the violin, the banjo, the harp, etc.

2) Many united nations employees are polyglots.

Maria, for example, speaks five languages.

Polyglots: knowing , using or written in many languages

4.Synonymy

Synonyms and synonymous expressions are also used to explain new words.

e.g.

1)The library is the highest edifice on campus, it towers above all the other buildings.

2)He died intestate. In the absence of a will his property was divided among his heirs according to the laws of the state.

5. Antonymy

contrasting words or statements are also employed to explain new words.

The signal words:

ButEven thoughYet HoweverAlthoughOn the other hand

In spite ofDespiteIn contrastNeverthelessOn the contraryConversely

Examples:1)Unlike her gregarious sister, Jane is a shy person, who does not

like to go to parties, or to make friends.

tardy: late in happening or arriving

4) Mr. Walker was usually on time; yet this morning he was tardy.

despise: to dislike and have no respect for sth or sb

3) Mary loves playing cards; however John despises it.

timorous: nervous and easily frightened

2) Tom is fearless, but his sister is timorous.gregarious: out-going, liking with other people

6. Hyponymy

Superordinates and subordinates often explain each other.

e.g.

1)The village had most of the usual amenities: a pub, a library, a post office, a village hall, a medical centre, and a school.

2)Select any of these periodicals, such as Time, Newsweek, Reader’s Digest or The New Yorker.

7.Word-formation

The morphemic structure of words, especially compounds and derived words can offer clues for determining the unknown words.

e.g.

In a hospital, rooms for only one patient are called private rooms. A room for many patients is called a ward. What are semiprivate rooms?

8.Cause and Effect (Result) relationship:

Cause and effect are the relationship between sentences and clauses, which are “cause” and “effect” to each other.

The signal words:

because , due to , in order to , so, so that , therefore , as a result

e.g. Suda got drenched during the rainstorm because she left her umbrella at her office.

9.Relevant details 1) In some cases, the author provides details in

context which are related to the unknown words, such as the functions, characteristics, nature, etc. of the referent.

e.g.

In spite of the fact that the fishermen were wearing sou’westers, the storm was so heavy that they were wet through.

2)The context may give the key words and structures to help activate the readers’ schematic knowledge or knowledge of the word to reach the new word.

e.g.

The fortune-teller was unable to prognosticate the events of the following week.

Supplement: Suggested ways for the correct comprehension of word meaning

1) The use of an up-to-date and adequate monolingual dictionary.

3) Development of the ability to determine the meaning of a word from its context.

2) A good knowledge of the culture of the English-speaking people.

Happy New Year!

Thank you !