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Why does “this” need a situation?

A message saying “Put this over there” can be perfectly clear in a room and baffling in a transcript. Some expressions point to people, places, or things through the situation in which they are used. Their job stays familiar while what they refer to changes.

2–3 min

Questions you could explore

  • What information disappears when a spoken exchange becomes text?
  • How do words such as here, tomorrow, and this depend on who is speaking and when?

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  • Merriam-WebsterDeixis

    Merriam-Webster’s entry for deixis explains reference that depends on the context of an utterance.

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Language

How much can six braille dots say?

A braille cell has only six positions, but its meaning depends on more than which dots are raised. In Unified English Braille, letters, indicators, and context work together to represent written language.

3–5 min

How much can six braille dots say?

Language3–5 minA braille cell has only six positions, but its meaning depends on more than which dots are raised. In Unified English Braille, letters, indicators, and context work together to represent written language.

Language

ASL has its own grammar

American Sign Language is a complete language with grammar of its own. Hands, facial expression, and body movement contribute to meaning, so describing it as English transferred into gestures misses how it works.

3–5 min

ASL has its own grammar

Language3–5 minAmerican Sign Language is a complete language with grammar of its own. Hands, facial expression, and body movement contribute to meaning, so describing it as English transferred into gestures misses how it works.

Why is a newly spotted word not automatically a dictionary entry?

Language3–5 minA new expression can attract attention before there is enough evidence to include it in a dictionary. Cambridge's New Words posts and Merriam-Webster's account of editorial selection show different stages of observing language in use.

Why does “this” need a situation? | Speech Topic | speaking.app