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.