Unit 1 Exam Flashcards
How is ‘definition’ defined?
A definition is an explanation of the meaning of the word.
The meaning of a word is a set of rules…governing the use of that word.
Reportive
How a word is actually used.
Stipulative
A proposal or pronouncement as to how a word will be used.
An announcement
Reportive: Lexical
The ordinary meaning
Example: Family
A family is a group of individuals related by birth adoption or marriage.
Reportive: disciplinary
How a term is used in a particular field.
Example: “A taxonomic category of related organisms ranking below an order and above a genus.”
Reportive: Historical
How a term was used in the past.
Example: A family is one or more persons related by blood, adoption, or marriage, living and cooking together as a single housekeeping unit, exclusive of households servants.”
Stipulative: Arbitrary
Introduces a new term or meaning.
Example: Let ‘genfam’ mean families based on genetic relationship.
Stipulative: Precising
Proposes a more exact meaning for a particular text.
Example: For purposes of this exercise, I will use ‘family’ to refer to a group of individuals residing together and committed to supporting each other financially, emotionally, and educationally.
Five methods
- Synonym
- Genus/Species
- Complete enumeration
- Example
- Ostention
Synonym
Equivalent word or very short phrase.
Consider the word: siblings
Example: brothers and sisters
Genus/Species
General category with specific feature(s).
Consider the word: Siblings
Example: Sister, brother, half-sister, half-brother, stepsister, stepbrother, foster sister, foster brother.
Example
One or more (but not a complete list).
Consider the word: siblings
Example: A brother
Ostention
Pointing
Consider the word: siblings
Example: literally pointing to a sibling
Completely circular
Using the term to define itself.
Consider the phrase: Distant relatives
Example: Those relatives you are related to distantly.
Obscure
Where the definition is less clear than the term itself.
Consider the phrase: Distant relatives
Example: A fourth cousin
Accidental conditions
Using features that only happen to apply.
Consider the phrase: Distant relatives
Example: Someone you don’t know but hope to inherit from.
Too narrow
Omits things which ought to be included.
Consider the phrase: Distant relatives
Example: Family members
Too broad
Includes things that ought not be included.
Consider the phrase: Distant relatives
Example: Family members
Three potentially problematic ways we use language that have an effect on reasoning.
- Loaded language
- Euphemism
- Weasel words
Loaded Language
Words chosen for strong emotive content.
Example: Whether it is a problem depends on context and purpose
- Can be favorable or negative language.
- Can be inappropriately or appropriately used.
Euphemism
Nice sounding description of not-so-nice reality.
Example:
- Downsizing
- Putting a pet to sleep
- Engaging the enemy
- Friendly fire
Weasel Words
Words that drain the content of a statement.
Example:
- may (instead of ‘will’)
- it seems that
- perhaps
Vagueness and ambiguity can be obstacles to clarify..
- These are two different problems
- These are not always problematic
Vagueness
Has to do with lack of precision and clarity.
- Most language is to vague to some extent
- Vagueness is a mater of degree
- Vagueness is not always problematic. It can be useful and intentional.
Fuzziness or fuzzy borders
Type of Vagueness
What is included in the category?
Solutions?
- Stipulative a definition
- Provide a definition by example(s)
- Develop a criteria: features that characterize clear cases and help you decide about less clear cases.
Too general
Type of Vagueness
In type or in quantity.
Solutions?
If the problem is a word that is too general in type…
- give details
- name specifics
If the problem is a word that is too general in quantity…
- put a number on it
- give a comparison
Ambiguity
The general problem
- to or more possible (clear and specific) meanings
- you cannot tell from the context which one is intended
Word Ambiguity
A particular word with more than one meaning.
Consider the word: ‘point’
Passenger: You should turn here.
Driver: Left?
Passenger: Right.
Common uses: humor, clever advertising.
Grammatical Ambiguity
More than one way to read a sentence.
- The words themselves are not ambiguous.
- The structure is ambiguous: how the words are connected.
Example: “The professor announced an extra credit opportunity last week.”
Is this something you would be happy to hear or disappointed?
