2. Definition theory Define as precisely as you can the following 3 words i. Triangleii. Tableiii. Love

3. 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.

4. Denotation theory A meaningful word “stands” for something, whereas a meaningless word does not

5. France stands for..

6. Problems Can you think of words which would be difficult to define by finding something they “stand for”?

7. Problems Can you think of words which would be difficult to define by finding something they “stand for”? Multiplication, freedom, wisdom, holistic, humanistic

8. Problems! Denotation theory does not work with abstract words Even a word like “Socrates” cannot literally be Socrates because it would become meaningless when he died.

9. Image Theory The meaning of a word is the mental image it stands for. You know the meaning of the word when you have the relevant concept in your mind.

10. Freedom Democracy Red England New York History Art Psychology In pairs, ask each other to describe what image they have when considering the list of words below. How different are they ?

11. Problems! We can never be sure that a person understands the meaning of a word the same as we do as they may have a different “image” in their mind An english football team.. Has to be..

13. Meaning as know-how You know the meaning of a word when you know how to use it correctly

14. Problematic meaning

15. 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?

16. 2) Vagueness Fast

17. Bald?

18. Jokes that rely on ambiguity!! “The valuable dog was still missing, believed stolen, however the police announced they have a lead.” Your very last breath will be a fatal blow. Gravity is studied a lot because it's a very attractive field.

19. Read the sentences below and find and account for two meanings  Flying planes can be dangerous  They saw Mrs Jones and a dog sitting under a table.  Refuse to be put in the basket.  Mia wanted to hear the pop star sing very badly.  Visiting relatives can be boring.  Johnny ate the bacon on the sofa.  I didn’t sleep with my wife before we were married. Did you?

20. In groups write down some ambiguous statements.

21. Context helps They saw Mrs Jones and a dog sitting under a table

22. 3. Secondary meaning Connotations - web of associations surrounding a word.

23. First lady or “Presidential partner”?

24. First man?

25. Slender, skinny, thin

26. Stubborn, steadfast, firm

27. Praise, flatter, commend

28. Energetic, spirited, frenzied

29. Stench, smell, fragrance

30. Think of as many different words as you can for; Drunk

31. Think of as many different words as you can for; Stupid

32. 4) Irony Defined as: incongruity between what might be expected and what actually occurs But what is the difference between irony and sarcasm? "A... perception of inconsistency, [usually but not always humorous], in which an apparently straightforward statement or event is undermined by its context so as to give it a very different significance..

36. 5. Metaphor A figure of speech in which a word or phrase that ordinarily designates one thing is used to designate another. Zaria has his head in the clouds

37. Emma has put her roots down in houston

38. My brother is a butcher

39. My dentist is a butcher

40. Explain the following; “No man is an island” (John Donne, 1572- 1631)

41. Fly and swim? What is the problem here?

42. Consider.. Should we care about the meaning of words? Are there times when the literal meaning is important? Who can use the meaning of words to their advantage?

43. Translation

44. Activity Class debate Should we have a universal language?

45. A world language? What would be the advantages and disadvantages if everyone in the world spoke the same language?

46. “Who does not know another language does not know his own” Goethe Discuss in groups: What can you learn about your own language by studying another? How does learning another language increase your knowledge of the world?

47. Idioms A colloquial expression that can’t be worked out from the meanings of the words

48. Idioms

51. Think of any more??