Linguistics: Sound and Meaning

To establish a close link between concepts and definitions, where knowing a concept is equivalent to understanding its definition.

A word's meaning is closely linked to its definition, and understanding a word's definition is necessary to grasp its meaning.

Aristotle was the first to explicitly explore definition in Greek philosophy.

<p>Nominal definitions establish a consistent and precise meaning for a term, contributing to linguistic consistency and clarity.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A definition helps to establish a clear and specific meaning for a concept, enabling us to accurately use and understand the associated word.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A dictionary is a list of words, whereas a thesaurus is a list of concepts.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>What are the minimal meaning-bearing units of language?</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>This definition is limited because languages with recent writing systems often have a fluid practice of word division, and the definition does not account for this variability.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It is essential to recognize meanings at multiple levels to avoid ambiguities about the level of grammatical structure to which meaning is correctly attributed.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>To determine what units of language should be ascribed meanings to, especially in unfamiliar languages.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>specifying the stored meaning representation associated with each lexeme in the mental lexicon</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>word-based or semasiological approach</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>mental lexicon</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>onomasiological approach</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>mapping ideas onto stored meaning representations</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It may not be successful as an extensional definition, leaving the essential nature of the word's meaning to be worked out by the definition's addressee, and carrying the risk that the wrong meaning may be inferred.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Mad also means 'insane' and furious means 'very angry', which are not the same as the meaning of angry.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The substitution of the definiens for the definiendum should be truth-preserving in all contexts.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It may not be clear what features or characteristics 'bocal' shares with other words, such as jars and conserve pots, that define its meaning.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Relational definitions focus on the connections between words, while extensional definitions aim to provide a clear and precise meaning of a word.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The addressee must infer the meaning of the word from the definition, which can lead to errors or ambiguities if the definition is not clear or accurate.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The definiendum is the word, phrase, or symbol being defined, and understanding its meaning is the goal of the definition.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Synonyms may not capture the full range of meanings or connotations of the word, and may introduce ambiguities or errors.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Genus and differentia provide a way to define a word by situating it in a system of wider relations and specifying its unique characteristics.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The definition must be precise and accurate, to avoid ambiguity or errors in the application of the word or concept.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Identifying the meaning-bearing units of the language that require definition.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Real definition.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Definition by ostension.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Definition by genus and differentia.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Cognitive definitions focus on the meaning of a concept, while extensional definitions focus on the set of objects or instances to which the concept applies.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>linguistic consistency</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>a summation of the essence or inherent nature of a thing and a description of the meaning of the word which denotes this thing</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>definition by ostension</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>idioms</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>nominal definition</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Scientists rely on fixed definitions to ensure clarity and consistency in their field, enabling them to communicate effectively and avoid confusion.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Nominal definitions are not typically required in everyday language use, but they become essential when clarifying the meaning of a word is necessary.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Clear definitions are essential in juridical contexts to establish precise meanings of terms like murder, contract, or fraud, ensuring consistent application of the law.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Concepts correspond to word meanings, and word meanings can be captured in definitions, implying that definitions are activated during language use.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Defining 'water' as H2O may not be effective in conveying the word's meaning if the recipient lacks knowledge of chemistry.</p> Signup and view all the answers