Download - Lesson 2 Dimensions Of Language
Lesson TwoDimensions of Language
Rhetoric 修辞学 \`re-tə-rik\ (noun) :
“The skill of using language in speech or writing in a special way that influences or persuades people”
Subject
Purpose Audience
The Writing Triangle
Dimensions of Language
Dimension: any point that take up space: has measurement
Dimensions of Language
Cultural
Dimension
Syntagmatic Dimension
Paradigmatic Dimension
Paradigmatic DimensionVertical ( 垂直的 ) dimension of languageLexical choices; choices in diction ( 措辞 )
Paradigmatic Dimension
Lexical: of or relating to words or the vocabulary of a language as distinguished from its grammar and construction
Paradigm: example or pattern, showing a word in all of its forms
Syntagmatic DimensionHorizontal ( 平的 ) dimension of language
Choices in syntax ( 造句 )
Syntagmatic Dimension
Syntax: order that we place words in, the structure of our sentences.
Cultural DimensionReaders’ cultural expectations or assumptions
Invisible on paper
Cultural DimensionAudience
Belief
Political/Government
Economic
Social
1. Formal \ Informal2. Standard \ Nonstandard3. General \ Specific4. In Group \ Out Group
Word Categories
Formal: I am applying for the receptionist position advertised in the local paper. I am an excellent candidate for the job because of my significant secretarial experience, good language skills, and sense of organization.
Formal \ Informal
Formal \ Informal
Informal: Hi! I read in the paper that ya'll were looking for a receptionist. I think that I am good for that job because I've done stuff like it in the past, am good with words, and am incredibly well organized.
Formal: I am applying for the receptionist position advertised in the local paper. I am an excellent candidate for the job because of my significant secretarial experience, good language skills, and sense of organization.
Formal \ Informal
Informal: Hi! I read in the paper that ya'll were looking for a receptionist. I think that I am good for that job because I've done stuff like it in the past, am good with words, and am incredibly well organized.
Formal Informal
Correct and effective use of words
• Academic writing• Business letter• Job application• Email
• Journal entries• Personal letter• Narratives• Email
Formal \ Informal
Standard \ NonstandardOverview
Standard refers to common words.
Nonstandard refers to slang, jargon, dialectal words, obsolete words, and idiomatic
expressions.
Standard \ NonstandardExamples
Standard Nonstandard
• am not, is not, has not• very good• very• to play a trick• you all
• ain’t• cool• damn• to pull one’s leg• ya’ll
Standard Nonstandard
Correct and effective use of wordsClosely related to formality
• Academic writing• Business letter• Job application• Email• Written
• Journal entries• Personal letter• Narratives• Email • Spoken
Standard \ Nonstandard
General \ SpecificOverview
Generality makes reference to words that involve, relate to, or apply to every member of
a class, kind or group.
Specificity makes reference to words that are encompassed by a more general catergory.
ExamplesGeneral \ Specific
General Specific
• animal• laugh• big• scientist
• tiger, horse, fox• chuckle, giggle, roar• huge, large, vast• physicist, chemist,
biologist
Correct and effective use of wordsGeneral \ Specific
General Specific
• Summary• Generalization
• Description• Explanation
Jargon ( 行话 )In Group \ Out Group
Jargon ( 行话 ) is any in-group or specialized language used by small groups of like-minded individuals.
This terminology is usually specialized to the function of the group, and will be used by and among group members as a sign of belonging, status, and for keeping out outsiders.
ExampleIn Group \ Out Group
Individuals who study Music History or Music Theory would use special words like dynamics, dissonance,
rondo, coda, forte, march.
To non-musians, these words have different meanings or no meanings at all.
ExampleIn Group \ Out Group
Situation One:If you are writing a paper explaining concepts and style of a
John Philips Sousa March to an audience of non-musicians, you might introduce and explain a few important terms.
But you wouldn't use those terms without an explanation or in a way your audience wouldn't understand.
ExampleIn Group \ Out Group
Situation Two:If you are writing a conference paper for a group of people
who have studied music or a term paper for a college-level music theory course, you should use in-group
jargon to help show that you understand the concepts and can discuss them in ways other linguists can.
1. Native texts2. Dictionaries3. Thesauri (类属词典 )
Reference Tools
Writing Assignment
Write one paragraph in which you describe your future career goals and intellectual interests to the faculty of the English Department.
Write another paragraph in which you describe your future career goals and intellectual interests to a Canadian third-year university student.
Reading Assignment
Look over Chapter 3; pages 43 – 56
Turn in your homework.