chapter-8-meaning-and-context

Chapter8MeaningandContext意义与语境Contents8.1typesofcontext8.1.1extra-linguisticcontext8.1.2linguisticcontext8.2theroleofcontext8.2.1eliminationofambiguity8.2.2indicationofreferents8.2.3provisionofcluesforinferringword-meaningWarming-up!Whatisthemeaningofthefollowingsentence?Thisisadifficultoperation.Thedoctorwillperformanoperationonherforadiseasedlung.Theskillfuloperationofthismachineishardtolearn.Thearmy’soperationinthatcountrywereverysuccessful.ContextNomatterhowmanymeaningsawordmayhave,therewillbenoriskofmisunderstanding,whenitoccursinaparticularcontext.Thenwhatisacontext?8.1Typesofcontext语境的类别Themeaningsofwords,especiallythoseofpolysemouswordsmaybeviewedasdeterminedeitherbylinguistic(verbal)contextsorextra-linguistic(non-verbal)contexts.Linguistic(verbal)context(言语)Extra-linguistic(non-verbal)context(非言语contextofsituation）TwotypesofcontextsLinguisticcontextreferstowords,clauses,sentences,paragraphs,orwholebooksinwhichawordappears.Extra-linguisticcontextreferstoaparticulartime,space,orcultureinwhichawordappears.因为非语言环境的重要性不容忽视，所以先看非语言语境8.1.1extra-linguisticcontext非语言语境Threeexamples:quicklookout补充内容：1.Definition:itreferstotheactualspeechsituationinwhichaword(oranutterance,oraspeechevent)occurs.Therearecasesinwhichthemeaningofawordisdeterminednotbylinguisticfactors,butbythespeechsituationinwhichthewordisused.e.g.OperationItisadifficultoperation.2.Ineverydaylife,wordmeaningismoreoftendependentontheactualsituationinwhichawordisusedratherthanonverbalcontext.3.Theextra-linguisticcontextmayextendtoembracetheentireculturalbackground,whichmayalsoaffectthemeaningofwords.1)tradeunion:Organizationofworkersformedtofightfortheirinterestsagainsttheemployers.OrganizationofworkersundertheleadershipofParty.Nofighting!Nonegotiating!(工会)2)landlord3)weekendInotherwordsbecauseofculturaldifferences,thesamelexicalitemmaynotmeansthesamethingtopeopleofdifferentcountries.Moreexamples:peasant:农民(inChinese)English:definitelyderogatoryasmallfarmer,pooranduneducatedEuropeans:neutraloneofchiefEuropeansclassthatsoilassmalllandownersorhiredlabors.liberalism自由主义En:Broad-mindednessCh:贬义的，激进派等，做不该做的事8.1.2Linguisticcontext语言语境LinguisticcontextcanbefurtherdividedintoLexicalcontextGrammaticalcontextVerbalcontextinitsbroadsense1.Lexicalcontext词汇语境Itreferstothelexicalitemscombinedwithagivenpolysemousword.Examples:makeTheregulationsweremade()toprotectchildren.Wemade()agoodbreakfastbeforelearning.Myfathermade()10,000yuanayear.Wemade()thestationintimetocatchthetrain.enactedhadearnedarrivedatExample:paperTheword“paper”hasanumberofmeaningsinthedictionary,butineachofthefollowingcontext,itconveysonlyonemeaning.asheetofpaperawhitepaperatermpapertoday’spaperexaminationpaperItisobviousthatthemainreasonforbringingoutthisorthatmeaningoftheword“paper”isthespecificwordswhichtheword“paper”iscombinedwith.2.Grammaticalcontext语法语境Ingrammaticalcontext,thesyntacticstructureofthecontextdeterminesvariousindividualmeaningsofapolysemousword.Example:getget+N(__________________)Igetalettertoday.get+Adj.(_____________)Heisgettingbetter.get+N+Adj(_____________)Shesoongetthechildrenreadyforschool.get+Infinitive(_________________)IfIgettoseehim,I’llaskhimaboutit.meaningto“receive”tobecomecausetobetosucceedindoing3.Verbalcontextmaycoveranentirepassage,orevenanentirebook,andinsomecaseseventheentiresocialorculturalsettings.e.g.page154THE一种酒的名字8.2Theroleofcontext语境的作用（indeterminationofwordmeaning）8.2.1EliminationofAmbiguities(消除歧义)Ambiguityreferstoaword,phrase,sentenceorgroupofsentenceswithmorethanonepossibleinterpretationormeaning.Ambiguityoftenarisesduetopolysemyandhomonymy.(1)Polysemymaycauseambiguity.Marybakedabirthdaycakeforhermother.(2)Homonymymaycauseambiguity.Theballwasattractive.(3)Grammaticalstructuremaycauseambiguity.Visitingrelativesmaybeboring.鸡不吃了。Jibuchile.ChickNegeatAux‘Thechickendoesnoteat.’‘Idon’teatchickenanymore.’约翰拔了三颗蛀牙。Yuehanbalesankezhuya.Johnpull-outAuxthreeCLrottentooth‘Johnpulledoutthreerottenteeth.’‘Johngotthreerottenteethpulledout.’8.2.2Indicationofreferents(限定所指)andtherangeofthemeaningofawordWithoutclearcontext,thereferencecanbeveryconfusing.(1)Inconversation,inordertoavoidrepetition,pronounsareoftenusedinsteadofanounornounphrase…e.g.BettytoldMarythatAlicewasangry.1.Shesaiditsecretly.2.Butshedidn’tbelieveher.3.Butshewasn’tangry.(2).情态动词----Doyouthinkhewill?----Idon’tknow.Hemight.----Isupposeheoughtto,butperhapshefeelshecan’t.----Well,hisbrotherhave.Theyperhapsthinkheneedn’t.----Perhapseventuallyhemay,IthinkheshouldandIverymuchhopehewill.Withoutcontext,thesesentencesareverydifficulttounderstand.jointhearmy补充内容：(3)Conveyingemotionalovertones情感隐含意义Someappreciativewordmayacquireunfavorablemeaningincertaincontexts.听完二乐子的满口秽言，小李不无讽刺的说：“你真是出口成章呀！”Somederogatorywordmayacquireappreciativemeaningincertaincontext.当他听完高一民关于利用激光侦破走私光盘的设想后，不禁猛地拍了高一民一掌说：“好一个大野心家，我怎么没发现你呀！”Someneutralwordcanincertaincontextsacquirefavorableorunfavorableemotionalovertones.如今的海外华人，一提到“中国”二字就感到无限的骄傲和自豪。骄傲是成功的头号敌人。他对上级下达的任务，常常是应付了事，置若罔闻。这类事情不好应付，得想个万全之策才行。8.2.3Provis