Conceptual Meaning Definition and Examples

In semantics, conceptual meaning is the literal or core sense of a word. There is nothing read into the term, no subtext; its just the straightforward, literal, dictionary definition of the word. The term is also called denotation or cognitive meaning. Contrast the word with connotation, affective meaning, and  figurative meaning, which go beyond the dictionary to add subtext to a word when its used. In writing and conversation, its good to know the difference between the literal, conceptual meaning of a word and all the connotations it has before you use it, to dispel misunderstandings or any offense before you accidentally put it out there—especially if a word is loaded with negatives or stereotypes about a group of people. To understand a word fully, noted authors  Ruth Gairns and Stuart Redman, a student must know not only what it refers to, but also where the boundaries are that separate it from words of related meaning. 7 Types of Meaning The potential layers of meaning that a word has, besides its straight dictionary definition, makes word choice in your writing so important. Its especially important to know when those layers have historically racist or sexist undertones to them.  Layers also have ramifications for those learning a language and being able to choose between similar words and use the correct one in the proper situation.   The conceptual meaning of a word, in the field of linguistics, is just one of seven types of meaning that a word can have. Affective meaning: what meaning is associated with it in the real world for the speaker or writer rather than just its dictionary meanings; subjective. A CEO and a nun talking about charity could mean two different things.  Ã‚   Collocative meaning:  words that are regularly found together. For example, take pretty and handsome. These words are more often associated with one gender or the other. If you hear someone behind you say, Dont you look handsome, and you look to see one person talking to a girl and one talking to a boy, your knowledge of how handsome is used collocatively  helps you figure out that the person you overheard is talking to the boy. Conceptual meaning: the dictionary definition of the word; the descriptive definition of it. A cougar in the dictionary is a big cat. In contexts about people and not concerning wildlife, the term has other meanings.   Connotative meaning: subtext and layers brought into the context by the use of a particular word; subjective. A words connotations can be negative or positive, depending on the audience. The label of being a liberal or a conservative, for example, can be good or bad, depending on the persons intentions in using it and the person hearing or reading it.   Connotative meanings can change over time or mean different things among different societies. Reflective or reflected meaning: multiple conceptual meanings.  For example, the literal, dictionary definition of the word  gay  is happy or bright (colors), though in societys use today it has a much different meaning. Social meaning: the meaning given to words based on the social context that theyre used in. For example, someone from the South would use yall  more often than someone from a different region of the country. People from different regions call a carbonated soft drink different things, too, from pop to soda  to Coke  (whether or not that is its literal brand name). Language can have a formal or informal register too that relays social meaning, or in some contexts, usage can show social class or a lack of education, such as if someone uses a double negative (dont have none), incorrect verb forms (have went), or the word aint. Thematic meaning: how the speaker portrays the message through word choice, the order of words used, and emphasis. Notice the subtle difference in emphasis between these sentences: My studies are important to me.Whats important to me are my studies. A writer or speaker can imbue emphasis by how he or she ends a sentence or paragraph. Context vs. Conceptual Meaning   Understanding a word used in context is also important. The passage where the word is used will help you choose between possible different conceptual meanings to figure out the intended message of the writer or speaker. For instance, a crane could be a bird or a piece of machinery. Context will tell the reader which meaning is intended. Or, whether the word read is intended to be in present or past tense will be clear in context.   Listen to a persons tone of voice and body language, when present in spoken language. Someone could say Thats great in many different ways. In writing, look up the background of allusions to get added layers of meaning that come along with the word choice. Further, look at how language is used in satire, sarcasm, figurative language, or humor. Each one of those areas has terms used in a way that differs from their dictionary definition—in the case of humor and sarcasm, a word could very well mean its opposite. Consider the catchphrase of Dana Carveys the Church Lady on Saturday Night Live, said in a mocking tone: Isnt that special? It doesnt mean somethings special in a good way. Beware of literalism. Not every word used in speaking or writing is meant to be taken to say solely its conceptual meaning. Think of that old saying, If someone told you to go jump off a bridge, would you do it? Obviously, the person who told you that didnt mean for you to actually go jump off a bridge. Sources Ruth Gairns and Stuart Redman. Working With Words: A Guide to Teaching and Learning Vocabulary. Cambridge University Press, 1986.

Psych Case Study Paper - 1143 Words

Megan S Case Study Paper October 21, 2013 Sheldon Cooper is a character in the fictional television show, â€Å"The Big Bang Theory†. Sheldon is extremely knowledgeable and brilliant in the things he knows and is passionate about, but everything else that doesn’t interest him, he completely ignores. Sheldon is a theoretical physicist at Caltech, having earned his B.S., M.S., M.A., Ph.D., and Sc.D. He lives with his roommate and Caltech colleague, Leonard Hofstadter, an experimental physicist. Having lived together for 10 years, the two have become best friends. Leonard often times feels obligated to explain Sheldons behavior and serve as a mediator between him and the people he is interacting with. The two are usually hanging out with†¦show more content†¦Penny started to cry when she wasn’t understanding anything. When Sheldon asks her why she is crying, she responds, â€Å"Because I’m stupid!† to which Sheldon responds, â€Å"Thats no reason to cry. One cries because one is sad. For example, I cry because others are stupid, and that makes me sad.† Another example comes from Sheldon feeling like he is deserving of a Nobel Peace Prize. He is having a conversation with a former Peace Prize winner, Dr. Smoot, and says, â€Å"You won the Nobel prize, what, three years ago? So you must deal with a whole lot of what has Smoot done lately? My thought is we continue my research as team, you know, Cooper-Smoot, alphabetical.. When we win the Nobel Prize, youll be back on top.† Dr. Smoot replies saying, â€Å"With all due respect, Dr. Cooper, are you on crack?† to which Sheldon responds, â€Å"Fine, Smoot-Cooper, what a diva!† Sheldon doesn’t think that what is saying is offensive in anyway, because he is too consumed in himself. Another disorder I would diagnose Sheldon with is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, or OCD. People with OCD have the need for everything to be perfect and having to be in control of everything. Someone with OCD also does well with lists and schedules and does not like to stray from them. These characteristics both apply to Sheldon. One thing Sheldon does, that is often seen as comical, is having a roommate agreement with Leonard. It is essentially a contract that states the protocol for everyShow MoreRelatedAn Examination Of Paranoid Personality Disorder862 Words   |  4 Pagesovertly arrogant, mistrustful, suspicious of others, driven, industrious, and even successful in solitary careers, unromantic, typically high-minded and severely observant towards the external environment (Akhtar, 1990). The first descriptive case study of paranoid personality disorder began in 1893 when leading French psychiatrist Magnan distinguished paranoid psychoses into two types: chronic delusional state of systematic evolution and delusional states of the degenerates (Akhtar, 1990)Read MoreThe Motto Of The Stanford Jail Experiment Devised By Psychologist Philip Zimbardo1261 Words   |  6 PagesZimbardo in 1971 in the basement of his faculty. What happened there is known as the Psych wardexperiment, a controversial study whose fame is partly based on the nefarious results it had for all its participants and which will form the base of my experiment. Hypothesis Human behavior and attitude varies according to the environment in which it dwells. Method: In this experiment I designed a situation of a psych ward, to see how people who had no relationship with the psyche environment were adaptingRead MoreHoarding Research Paper1425 Words   |  6 Pages COM 102-037/Mrs. Grisolano Research Paper April 29, 2013 Hoarding: Buried Alive Until a few years ago, a lady who was known to collect cats would have been called â€Å"the crazy cat lady.† Houses that were filled with endless amounts of stuff were referred to as â€Å"cluttered, filthy, or a pen sty.† As of today, those expressions have been replaced with the coined terms: â€Å"hoarder or compulsive hoarding.† What is hoarding? â€Å"Compulsive hoardingRead MorePsychology : The Influential Bunch1184 Words   |  5 PagesJustine Taylor Trident University International PSY101 – Introduction to Psychology Module 1- Case Assignment October 18th, 2015 Dr. Wajama, Aslami The Influential Bunch Psychology is defined as the scientific study of the behavior and mental process of individuals. In psychology there are many different perspectives that are employed. In this paper, this student will identify a few influential psychologists that paved the road for modern psychology. John B. Watson was a pioneering figureRead MoreZimbardo Research Paper1029 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿ Zimbardo Research Paper Leslie Massey PSYCH/620 01/22/2015 Professor Sharon McNelly Zimbardo Research Paper The Stanford Prison Experiment was a study conducted in 1971 by Dr. Phillip Zimbardo. According to Dr. Steve Taylor (2007), â€Å"It’s probably the best known psychological study of all time.† (Classic Studies in Psychology, 2007). Zimbardo stated that the point was to see what would happen if he put â€Å"really good people in a bad place† (Dr. Zimbardo, 2007). He did this duringRead More The Negative Impact of Exposing Children to Media Violence Essay1448 Words   |  6 Pagesplay a role in this increase in youth violence. Today, there is much controversy over the potential harmful effects of media violence on childrenà ­s lives. I believe that exposure of children to media violence is harmful. For the purposes of this paper, I will limit the definition of (mass) media to television, and, subsequently, violent (mass) media to television programs that contain violent acts. By children, I will be referring to people of age 18 and below who live in the U.S., since this groupRead MoreTenants Of Personality Theories And The Bible1274 Words   |  6 Pagespersonality and articles that explore the foundations and progression of personality with reflections of Biblical input. Research into the ideas that form the foundation of personality include; nature versus nurture, the unconscious, and view of self and studies into the progression of personality including; development, motivation and maturation. Adding Biblical scripture and related examples into the outline objectives makes it a diverse and in depth topic. Respective theories and different article viewpointsRead MoreHow Pyromania Can Affect Your Life923 Words   |  4 PagesHEAD: PYROMANIA Pyromania: Its lit!!! Austin Huffstutter Clover Park High-School January 11, 2017 Period 2 Notes: Student produced paper. â€Æ' ABSTRACT This paper is about how pyromania can affect your life. It will explain the diagnostic criteria, the various symptoms involved with pyromania, the treatment options one could pursue, and of course a case study showing how somebody has lived with pyromania. â€Æ' Pyromania is a mental illness that can affect you and people around youRead MoreResults of the VARK Questionnaire812 Words   |  3 Pagesoccurred to me that this was my preferred mode of thinking or learning. I assumed I was more of a visual learner, watching someone do something or hearing someone explain it to me. However, in taking the quiz, I realize that this is rarely the case. Except in cases where the reading or instruction materials are unclear, I prefer to be able to go back to a written document and recheck myself and instructions before proceeding on a given course of action. There are, of course, other types of learningRead MoreAnalysis of the Class Orientation to Psychology Essay1371 Words   |  6 Pagesworld of psychology. The very first and most basic thing I learned this semester, was how to examine my study skills. Using the given self-evaluations I was able to gain a more complete understanding of my strengths and weaknesses as a student. I found that I excel at time management. I am not one to procrastinate and I am a very effective planner. Another personal area of strength in regard to study skills is my ability take notes. I have a very effective foundation in note-taking and this has continued

My Future Career and Plans Free Essays

My future career and plans The first I have to do is to finish this school. After it there I would like to study The University of Economics or Faculty of Electrical Engineering at the Czech Technical University. Rather I would like to study the University of Economics, because after finishing it I would have two qualifications, computer specialist and engineer of economy. We will write a custom essay sample on My Future Career and Plans or any similar topic only for you Order Now The second school is very good too, because I would have a complex overview in computers. During the studies I would like to join some exchange program for students and study few months abroad. It would be absolutely perfect, because of get some experience with foreign circumstances. Next aim I would like to achieve is to learn fluently French and German. It’s necessary, because we are surrounded by German speaking countries and the official language in the European Union is the French. My school selection has another advantage. After reach some experience skills in the computer world I could certify my knowledge by Microsoft certificating program. The test and certificate are world reputable, which could be very useful in the future job. During the studies, there is a possibility to work for a company connected with school, where I could get some experience as a practice. If I found some good practice during my studies I would try to lunch out on my own. I would try to find a flat and live my own life. I have to prove to everybody, especially to my family, that I am able to see after myself. After the school I would like to find well paid work, but I would have to enjoy it. In the work which I don’t enjoy I don’t do maximum for it and it’s not good. Related essay: â€Å"My Ambition To Become an Engineer† After get some experience If possible I would like to create my own computer company, because what I know certain is that I don’t want to work with some company and after fifty years they will tell me â€Å"By Mike, you were good, but we don’t need you anymore†. That’s my nightmare. I want to leave some product of my whole life work here. I exactly don’t know the specialization of my future company, but I would like to undertake in the computer world, because it has a future. That’s another reason why I would like to study the University of Economics. For choice I would like to undertake with my present friends, because I can believe them and they will study similar schools. I believe that would be successful company and we would earn a lot of money. I would buy a comfortable car and I would buy a land and built a big house with an indoor and outdoor swimming pool. The bases for a good life are the material resources and a life partner. I don’t enjoy the marriage so I would like to live with my partner without it at least until the time we would have children, because it’s not necessary for me to have an affirmation which allows me to live with somebody I love. I think that it is a modern tendency to live without a marriage, so I would try it. I suppose that people will come to know each other better. After I will have children I would like to look after my family, so the conditions is that the company will be reputable and it will be run by perspective people and I will only share the profits and do only the representative functions as propagations of our interests. How to cite My Future Career and Plans, Essay examples