How context plays a role in analyzing the meaning of words

The meaning and context of words and the relationship between the two are explained as follows:

1. The meaning of the word.

The meaning of words includes the original meaning, extended meaning, and figurative meaning of words. The original meaning of a word is called the original meaning. Taking the original meaning as the starting point, according to the characteristics of the things or phenomena it reflects, the word will produce several meanings related to the original meaning but not the same in the process of its development, which is the extended meaning of the word.

The nature of the meaning of the word includes generalization, objectivity, and ethnicity.

2. The meaning of the context.

Context is the subjective factor on which people rely to understand and use language in language communication, either in the context of speech or in the absence of speech.

It includes both linguistic and non-verbal factors. Time, space, situation, object, discourse premise, etc., are all contextual factors related to the use of words. From the perspective of the historical status of contextual studies, the definition of context and its basic content are not exactly the same in different disciplines and different academic schools.

The concept of context was first introduced by Poland.

Anthropologists proposed it in 1923. He distinguishes between two types of contexts, one is "situational context" and the other is "cultural context". It can also be said to be divided into "linguistic context" and "non-verbal context".

3. The relationship between context and word meaning.

1. In different contexts, the meaning of the same word is not the same;

2. Context directly determines the meaning of a word in between;

3. The change of context affects the change of the meaning of words.

1.Context singulates the meaning of words. For example, there are many meanings of "old" and "dead", but in the specific context, such as "Xianglin's sister-in-law is old", you know that "old" here means "death".

2.Context concretizes the meaning of words. For example, "chipping" refers to "ping pong".

3.Context adds temporary meaning. For example, the fish of "fried fish" is generally dead, adding the meaning of "-live".

4.Context shows selectivity in the meaning of words. For example, "walking into the park to enjoy plum blossoms" excludes "blind people".

Context is the abbreviation of language environment, which mainly refers to factors such as the time, occasion, and place on which language activities are carried out, as well as the context of the preface and the afterword of expression and comprehension. The role of context in language comprehension is mainly reflected in the following two aspects:

1. Context has a limiting effect on language comprehension. It is manifested in the comprehension and choice of words. The same word may have different meanings in different contexts, so it is necessary to make an accurate understanding according to the specific context. For example:

We are proud that our motherland has such heroes, and we are proud to have been born in this heroic country. (Wei Wei, "Who is the cutest person").

Humility makes people progress, and pride makes people lag behind.

For example, two "heroes" are used, the former is the object of "have", which is modified by "such" to refer to the heroic person; The latter is a definite term, which modifies "kingdom" and refers to the heroic qualities possessed. In addition, the example "pride" is said relative to the hero, and it is used symmetrically with the "pride" below, which also expresses the meaning of pride; For example, the combination of "pride" and "backwardness" is contrasted with "modesty", which expresses the meaning of self-esteem and contempt for others. This is the limiting effect of context on word comprehension.

2. Context complements language comprehension. It is manifested in the understanding of the deep meaning of language and the meaning beyond words. A sentence may only express a very simple literal meaning, or it may be a deep meaning given by the context, or it may be an extra-verbal meaning.

It's easier to understand the literal meaning, just understand the meaning of each word and the meaning of the combination of words and words. The deeper meaning of language is different from the meaning beyond words, and it must be deeply understood in the context of the specific context and through the literal meaning. For example:

Along the lotus pond, there is a winding road of small coal chips. It's a secluded road; There are fewer people walking during the day, and it is even more lonely at night. (Zhu Ziqing, "Moonlight on the Lotus Pond").

If the bookstore wishes," he said, "I think it could be printed with the approval." ......Do you want to let it 'stay' for a hundred years? (Tang Tao, "Trivial Memories").

How can the road be "lonely"? This requires an understanding of the social environment at the time and the author's state of mind at that time. The author is dissatisfied with reality, fantasies can escape, and wanders in depression.

The word "loneliness" is a portrayal of the author's state of mind at that time. Example: Is it really the criticism "Liufang"? Combined with the above "I" attitude ("I was extremely angry, I went to see Mr. Lu Xun with the returned manuscript") and Mr. Lu Xun's discussion ("** business," Mr. Lu Xun said, "always do like a **."

The use of anti-language here is obviously anti-language, expressing the author's disgust and ridicule of the Kuomintang regime.

It is very important that background information is critical to understanding the semantics.

Context plays a very big role in language comprehension, because the same words spoken in different language environments mean completely different things, so we must consider the factors before and after when understanding a sentence.

The role of context in the meaning of words is as follows:

Context singulates the meaning of words.

The so-called singularity of word meaning refers to the fact that the same word has only one meaning within a certain context.

For example: "It's dark in a cave. The word "darkness" in this context refers to the absence of light.

In the evil old China, there was darkness everywhere. The "darkness" here is a metaphor for social corruption and political reaction, and does not contain the meaning of "there is no light".

Another example: (1) "The words should be balanced and written properly." ”

2) "Be of good character." ”

3) "Correct the attitude towards learning. ”

Example (1) "Straight" here refers to the fact that all parts of the object are in a state of proper equilibrium.

Example (2) "Integrity" here means decency; Example (3) The word "upright" is interpreted as making it right.

2) Context concretizes the meaning of words.

Concretization of word meaning means that the meaning expressed by the word is not abstract and general, but very clear and stable. For example:

1) Balzac's "Scrooge": "This is obviously his forehead, his mouth. This "he" refers to a specific person - Charlie, Eugenie's cousin.

Father, I can't move, you make me look bad! The "person" in this sentence also refers to Cousin Charlie.

Mao Dun's "Spring Silkworm" "For the sake of the foreign species, she still often raises the pole with Lao Tongbao. "She" specifically refers to Lao Tongbao's daughter-in-law, the four mothers.

3) "The True Story of Ah Q" "I will beat you with a steel whip in my hand. "You" - a famous man for hundreds of miles.

4) Cao Yu "Thunderstorm" "A woman, you remember, can't be bullied by two generations, you can think-think. "Women" and "two generations" all refer to something. "Woman" refers to Fanyi, and "two generations" refers to Zhou Puyuan and Zhou Ping's father and son.

3) The context gives the meaning of the word a temporary meaning.

The same word conveys different thoughts and feelings in different language environments, and expresses different views and opinions, which gives rise to the temporary meaning of the word. For example:

1) Some of the situations that were only understood by some people in the society in the past are now in front of the whole society. (PR Language Arts).

2) Eliminate the crisis of education and stop the decline in the quality of personnel. (PR Language Arts).

3) This is — ditch desperate backwater. (Smell a lot, "Dead Water").

The "**" in example (1) was originally used in photography, but now it is borrowed to mean "exposed".

In example (2), "slippery slope" originally referred to the natural phenomenon of a large amount of soil and rocks on the surface slope sliding downward as a whole, but now it is used to represent a regressive phenomenon in many aspects of the forest, such as spiritually, economically, and culturally.

The "stagnant water" in example (3) refers to the state of Chinese society at that time.

1.Context singulates the meaning of words. For example, there are many meanings of "old" and "dead", but in the specific context, such as "Xianglin's sister-in-law is old", you know that "old" here means "death".

2.Context concretizes the meaning of words. For example, "chipping" refers to "ping pong".

3.Context adds temporary meaning. For example, the fish of "fried fish" is generally dead, adding the meaning of "-live".

4.Context shows selectivity in the meaning of words. For example, "walking into the park to enjoy plum blossoms" excludes "blind people".

1. Make the meaning of language clearer and eliminate ambiguity and ambiguity. 2. To give words a temporary, specific meaning.