Transcript The signal words

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
3)Explanation
5)Antonymy
7)Cause and Effect
9)Word formation
2)Exemplification
4)Synonymy
6)Hyponymy
8)Relevant details
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:
But
Even though
Yet
However
Although
On the other hand
In spite of
Despite
In contrast
Nevertheless
On the contrary
Conversely
Examples:
1)Unlike her gregarious sister, Jane is a shy
person, who does not like to go to parties, or
to make friends.
gregarious: out-going, liking with other people
2) Tom is fearless, but his sister is timorous.
timorous: nervous and easily frightened
3) Mary loves playing cards; however
John despises it.
despise: to dislike and have no respect for sth or sb
4) Mr. Walker was usually on time; yet this
morning he was tardy.
tardy: late in happening or arriving
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.
2) A good knowledge of the culture of the Englishspeaking people.
3) Development of the ability to determine the
meaning of a word from its context.
Happy New Year!
Thank you !