ENG: Text & communication SEM 2
ORGANIZATION OF INFORMATION
TEXTUAL STRUCTURE
Different levels:
Written text Spoken text equivalents
- Sentence - Utterance (spoken word/sound/statement)
- Paragraph - Short/medium length
- Text - Longer stretch
WHY ORGANIZE INFORMATION?
1. Ensure efficient communication
2. Courtesy to the reader
3. Writer needs to sell product
a. Reader = consumer & writer = producer & message = product
b. Competition for reader’s attention
How to organize?
o Known unknown
o Elements in order in which they take place (recipe, conversation, …)
WHAT A WORD’S WORTH
LOADED LANGUAGE
= carry strong negative/positive emotion
<-> not loaded:
- Grammatical words articles, auxiliary verbs, … no lexical meaning
- Terminology highly specialized words, particular area
- General words classification funtion, specific terms
Hypernyms: Hyponyms:
- Classification function - Specific meaning
- Fruit, animal, bird, … - Dog, rose, banana, …
More likely to carry connotations
1
, TERMINOLOGY
Term Meaning
Connotation - Associations with words
- Figurative meaning
Denotation - Dictionary definition
- Literal meaning
Synonym - Range of words with ± same meaning
Euphemism - Avoid reference to sth impolite, negative
Contested terms - Not politically correct, need to be replaced
Pejoration - Neutral word gets associated with negative
concept, so gains negative connotation
Amelioration - Word gains positive connotation
Inclusive language - Political correct language
Euphemism = better?
o Used by powerful to disguise war horrors
o Grotesque euphemism: mismatch between word & referent offensive
o Neutral term: removes condemnatory tone
ENCODING EMOTION IN WORDS
1. Emotive spin
Similar conceptual meaning but different emotive meaning
o Eg. Slim – thin – skinny
2. Affective words
Only have emotive meaning
Intensifiers: adjectives/adverbs that add emotional intensity
o Positive: nice, good, fabulous
o Negative: terrible, awful, swear words
express individual likes & dislikes -> subjective
3. Conceptualization
Describe feelings objectively, turning it into a concept
o Depression, amazement, nervous
Use of modals/adverbials of inclination
o Need, want to, rather, hopefully, …
FORMALITY
Three strata:
Basic Old English words borrowed French words borrowed Greek & Latin words
2
ORGANIZATION OF INFORMATION
TEXTUAL STRUCTURE
Different levels:
Written text Spoken text equivalents
- Sentence - Utterance (spoken word/sound/statement)
- Paragraph - Short/medium length
- Text - Longer stretch
WHY ORGANIZE INFORMATION?
1. Ensure efficient communication
2. Courtesy to the reader
3. Writer needs to sell product
a. Reader = consumer & writer = producer & message = product
b. Competition for reader’s attention
How to organize?
o Known unknown
o Elements in order in which they take place (recipe, conversation, …)
WHAT A WORD’S WORTH
LOADED LANGUAGE
= carry strong negative/positive emotion
<-> not loaded:
- Grammatical words articles, auxiliary verbs, … no lexical meaning
- Terminology highly specialized words, particular area
- General words classification funtion, specific terms
Hypernyms: Hyponyms:
- Classification function - Specific meaning
- Fruit, animal, bird, … - Dog, rose, banana, …
More likely to carry connotations
1
, TERMINOLOGY
Term Meaning
Connotation - Associations with words
- Figurative meaning
Denotation - Dictionary definition
- Literal meaning
Synonym - Range of words with ± same meaning
Euphemism - Avoid reference to sth impolite, negative
Contested terms - Not politically correct, need to be replaced
Pejoration - Neutral word gets associated with negative
concept, so gains negative connotation
Amelioration - Word gains positive connotation
Inclusive language - Political correct language
Euphemism = better?
o Used by powerful to disguise war horrors
o Grotesque euphemism: mismatch between word & referent offensive
o Neutral term: removes condemnatory tone
ENCODING EMOTION IN WORDS
1. Emotive spin
Similar conceptual meaning but different emotive meaning
o Eg. Slim – thin – skinny
2. Affective words
Only have emotive meaning
Intensifiers: adjectives/adverbs that add emotional intensity
o Positive: nice, good, fabulous
o Negative: terrible, awful, swear words
express individual likes & dislikes -> subjective
3. Conceptualization
Describe feelings objectively, turning it into a concept
o Depression, amazement, nervous
Use of modals/adverbials of inclination
o Need, want to, rather, hopefully, …
FORMALITY
Three strata:
Basic Old English words borrowed French words borrowed Greek & Latin words
2
