What is meaning?

Answer 1

Meaning, in terms of words or utterances means:

1) Describe the content of a word;

2) Tell which of two or more possible interpretations of an utterance is correct;

3) Summarize a phrase or utterance into is simplest expression; or

4) Tell the real-world significance of an utterance, its real world implications (what might happen) or logical implications (what is expected to happen).

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1.  When a word or utterance is vague, Describe the concrete object or situation that utterance refers to, give its concrete content. For example, if I say the word “Apple” and ask you what that means, you should describe for me the content of the term “Apple”. For example, you could say “An Apple is a large circular or heart-shaped fruit, typically red in color but also may appear green, or yellow, has smooth firm skin, crisp sweet white-colored flesh with small seeds on the inside which are typically hard, brown, and tear-drop shaped. This fruit typically grows on trees”.  However, if I asked you what the word りんご[1] means, you might not be able to tell me since you probably do not know what content that utterance has.

[1] That word “りんご” or “りんご” is pronounced “ring-go” and is the Japanese word for “Apple”.

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2.  When an utterance is ambiguous, clarify Which of two possible interpretations the speaker intended. For example, if I say to you “If you go into the woods, that bear will make you lunch”. This could mean one of two things: 1) The bear will cook for you a nice meal for you to eat. Or 2) That bear will eat you AS his lunch! Hence, there is a big difference in the two interpretations!! So it is important to know which interpretation is accurate or correct. Therefore, you should recognize when something is ambiguous and then try to figure out which meaning is intended by the speaker.

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3.  Put the utterance or phrase is its Simplest expression in your own words, summarize the utterance. Here, the third definition of meaning means your ability to summarize and simplify an utterance into is simplest form to show that you understand what the utterance is saying. For example, this phrase from the Declaration of Independence says: “The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States.” So, what does that mean in simple terms? It means, “The king sucks” or “King George Bad” or “The King is trying to be a dictator.” Or “King George is trifling”.[1] When you summarize an utterance, try to simplify an utterance down to two or three words.

[1] Here, “trifling” means “someone who cannot be trusted”.

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4.  What are the unstated Implications or real-world consequences of that utterance? Here, the fourth definition of meaning means your ability to predict the implications an utterance will have in the real world in terms of actions people might take or how the utterance might impact people’s lives. For example, take this excerpt from the Declaration of Independence which states: “We, therefore . . .do . . . solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do.” If I were to ask you “What does that mean?” You might answer “King George is not going to like that!” or “King George may send troops to prevent the colonialist from separating” or “King George is going to kick the colonists’ butts to put them back in line.”  Or something similar to show what are the real world implications or consequences of an utterance or statement.

Those are the four definitions of “meaning”.

© Copyright December 2020, Robert W. Gordon, Esq.