1. Welcome!04/07/10 Warm up:  Which theory about meaning do you like the best and why?  Definition Theory  Denotation Theory  Image Theory Write 4 lines minimum Homework/announcements:  Work on dictionary. Topic/Goals Explore the meaning of words. Analyze how the role Language plays in knowing something Today’s Agenda 1.Discus Warm up 2.Dictionary Project information 3.Wrap up

2. Welcome!04/07/10 Oops, it’s 7:10, you missed the warm- up Homework/announcements:  Work on dictionary. Topic/Goals Explore the meaning of words. Analyze how the role Language plays in knowing something Today’s Agenda 1.Announcements 2.Discus Warm up 3.Dictionaries 4.Wrap up

3. Language - the problem: Can you decide if something is true or not if you don’t know what the word means? For example: do you think it is true that all lifts should have a 2000 ton capacity?

4. Dictionary Assignment Goal of assignment: How can we figure out what a word or statement really means? The Assignment: Create a dictionary with 20 different words Rules for the dictionary:  Definition for each word (what does it mean?)  Give a history of the word (where does the word come from? Every word came from a root word…)  At least 2 Synonyms and slang words  Common Usage – How would someone use it in a sentence or in everyday life?  Are there multiple ways one would use the word? (red pepper v. red traffic light)  Must include the following words  pepper; Fast; Best; Tasty; hot; burn; chocolate; teacher  Work in groups of 4

5. Theories on Meaning Definition theory Try and explain the word using other words Problem: using other words that are fuzzy and might need to be defined Denotation Theory: Words stand or represent things from the real world; they are classified using experiences. for example: Mr. Sokoloff means me the teacher; NEHS means the school that we all go to. Problem: what happens if Mr. Sokoloff dies? Does the meaning die with it? What about words like freedom? How can you use the world to describe “freedom?”

6. Theories on Meaning Image Theory The meaning of the word is an image in your brain; if you can picture it then that is the meaning… Problem: how do I know you understand/see the same word that I see in my head? How can things be consistent? This is similar to the problem with perception… how can we “perceive the same thing?”

7. Are you sure you mean that?... Be careful, you don’t want your dictionary to have…  Vagueness  Ambiguity  Secondary meanings (or not account for secondary meanings)  Connotation could also have metaphor or euphemisms  Connotation – what the word refers to; Denotation – words it is associated with.  What does “liberty” mean to you?  Metaphor  “you have your head in the clouds”  Ironry

8. Entries in Dictionary should be consistent! Lemon Def: A fruit that grows on a tree in typically tropical weather that has a sour taste to it when bitten into it; usually yellow in color and varies in size but typically does not weigh more than 20g a pale yellow color a person or thing that is poor quality or disappointing History: Person who first bit into this sour fruit came up with the name after he yelped due to the sourness and disappointment of it. Often people refer to disappointments similar to how people bit into the lemon. Synonyms or slang: A dud; zero. Common Usage Boy, that car is a total lemon; please pick a lemon and make some lemonade.

9. Goodbye04/07/10 Announcements:  none Homework  Work on Dictionary Assignment!  Due on Friday Questions?

10. Welcome!04/09/10 Warm up: 1.Get into groups of 4  This will be your group for the dictionary project 2.As a group, create a list of the 20 words you want to use 3.On the list assign each person 5 words they are responsible for 4.Hand in list to Mr. Sokoloff Due: 7:20 Homework/announcements:  Work on dictionary. Topic/Goals Prepare for Dictionary Project Explore the meaning of words. Analyze how the role Language plays in knowing something Today’s Agenda 1.Discus Warm up 2.Dictionary Project 3.Wrap up

11. Goodbye04/08/10 Announcements:  none Homework  Work on Dictionary Assignment!  Due on Friday  Journal 1: confusion in language  Describe a time you were confused because of language  Use the concepts covered in class so far to describe how/why you became confused  How could a better understanding of language help you be more certain next time.? Questions? Comments?