The meaning of make is affected by the grammatical structures. This is called grammatical context. Grammatical context is the grammatical structures in which a particular linguistic item is used.



[47] The ball was good. 1) dancing party 2) round object Revised: The ball was good. I never danced like this before. The ball was good. I used it for a long time.
8.1.2 Linguistic Context


figure 1) a half-length figure （像） 2) a historical figure （人物） 3) double figure （数字） 4) figure of speech （词格）
8.1.2 Linguistic Context
8.1.1 Extra-linguistic Context



广场（square） 1) a large flat area without buildings 2) a large building (亚贸广场；武广) 城（city） 1) a large town with more than 300,000 residents 2) 家俱城；书城

8.1.1 Extra-linguistic Context


weekend (length of time) 1) one day (1980s) 2) one day and half (1995) 3) two days (1996) 4) two days and half (some places)
8.2.1 Elimination of Ambiguity


He is a hard businessman. hard: 1) hard-working 2) difficult He is a hard businessman to deal with.
8.2.1 Elimination of Ambiguity
8.2.2 Indication of referents


This is the book I mentioned to you the other day. Now there is nothing we can do. Without context there is no way to tell what “this” refers to or the exact time “now” stands for.
8.2.3 Provision of Clues for Inferring Word-meaning



Perhaps the most startling theory to come out of kinesics, the study of body movement, was suggested by Professor Bird-whistell. 身势学 (definition)
8.2.3 Provision of Clues for Inferring Word-meaning


The hints (context clues) might help the readers to grasp the concept or understand the idea. Context clues vary a great deal. There are six or seven major context clues.
8.2.1 Elimination of Ambiguity


Grammatical structure can also lead to ambiguity, e.g. The fish is ready to eat. I like Mary better than Jean. (1)I like Mary better than Jean likes M. (2) I like Mary better than I like Jean.
8.2.1 Elimination of Ambiguity

Revised: He took Vanity Fair from a
wooden shelf and said “This is the book I mentioned to you the other day.”
8.2.1 Elimination of Ambiguity
8.1.1 Extra-linguistic Context

weekend (days for rest) Sunday and Monday (华师分校) Monday and Tuesday (some factories) one day of a week (private enterprise)

Revised: Water continued to rise and the whole family were driven to the attic (顶楼、阁楼） of the house. There was no other place to go. “Now there is nothing we can do,” said the father helplessly.
8.2.1 Elimination of Ambiguity



The shooting of the hunter was horrible. (1) The hunter shot something in a horrible way. (2) The hunter was shot in a horrible way.
Chgapter 8
Meaning and Context
第八部分
Types of context
Role of context
ห้องสมุดไป่ตู้
extra-linguistic contest
elimination of ambiguity
linguistic context
indication of referents


worker
(before 1949) (1950s-1960s) (1980s) (1990s) (2000)
8.1.2 Linguistic Context


Linguistic context is the linguistic enviornment, in which a linguistic unit is used. A linguistic unit can be a phrase, a clause, a sentence, a paragraph, a passage, a chapter in a book or even a book.
8.2.3 Provision of Clues for Inferring Word-meaning
Many United Nations employees are polyglots. Mary, for example, speaks five languages. (example)
8.2.3 Provision of Clues for Inferring Word-meaning


Context may prove extremely valuable in guessing the meanings of new words. In many cases, when a new word (thought to be) appears for the first time, the author generally manages to give hints.
inference of word-meaning
BACK
Meaning and Context



Context is very important. As most words are polysemic, without context there is no way to determine the meaning of a word. Meaning is defined in context.
8.1 Types of Context

8.1.1 Extra-linguistic Context
Extra-linguistic context is context beyond language, but physical situation, in which language is used: the people, time, place, and even the whole cultural background, e.g.
8.1.1 Extra-linguistic Context


landlord （地主; 房东） exploiter of peasants (negative) one who has house to let (positive)
8.1.1 Extra-linguistic Context
8.2 The Role of Context