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 open- ended 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.What is traxoline? 2.Where is traxoline montilled? 3.How is traxoline quaselled? 4.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. Triangleii. Tableiii. 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, )

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