Does this recent theory mean that words have actual meaning?

1 Answer

Answer :

We share many common experiences and we can learn about others through modelling (see an good psychology text). The desire to share experiences using language is consistent with empathy. It does not suggest that words have inherent meaning, but that we seek to share language to share experiences.

Related questions

Description : If mandarin is a tonal language, how can people parse meaning when the words are set to music?

Last Answer : answer:Two guesses (having learned a little mandarin, but not being a scholar of the language): 1. Context: I'd imagine it's similar to when listening to punk rock or heavy metal, it takes a ... lyrics without affecting the sound too much. Like rolling your r's or enunciating your t's while singing

Description : An attorney friend recently uttered the phrase "hosphidery fosphidat" after a particularly trying day in court. He doesn't know what it means, nor do I. I am wondering if anyone out there (with foreign language aptitude or knowledge of root words) might have some idea of the meaning of what he said?

Last Answer : answer:Jumpin’ Jehosapath is a dated exclamation meaning “Wow” or something equally innocuous. Jehosaphat was a biblical king. Yr friend’s phrase sounds invented. Cartoon

Description : What words do people use interchangeably, but really mean two different things, but are very similar?

Last Answer : Then and than.

Description : . S1 : Film theory is an academic discipline that aims to explore the essence of cinema and provides conceptual frameworks for understanding a film's relationship to reality, other arts, individual ... the process of analysing a film in terms of mise-enscene, cinematography, sound and editing.

Last Answer : (3) PRQ

Description : What's the word for all the words that involve hate, plus the toilet/potty related ones?

Last Answer : expletive

Description : How many syllables are there in the words "bed" and "store"?

Last Answer : One.

Description : What fun country/mountain words and phrases do you know?

Last Answer : answer:My stepfather’s brother lives on a 50 acre patch on a hill in Kentucky. First time we visited there, Doug days to me, “Kids are shootin’ near the crick down the holler. Go on.” I had no idea what he was talking about so I just nodded…

Description : Using only four words, what would you say (read details)

Last Answer : I’m just a passerby!

Description : Do you agree with using newly-coined words?

Last Answer : answer:Teens the world over use new terms as a way to differentiate themselves from parents teachers and grow ups in general. To that extent, it is fine, I don’t use many new words or slang or jargon myself, but that is because I am an old curmudgeon who feels he needs to be clear in communication.

Description : What words/phrases really bug you?

Last Answer : retard, mixed marriages, colored, anything that’s a putdown to a group of people get’s my goat. And guess where I usually hear this crap. My family.

Description : Are there words that you routinely misspell?

Last Answer : Diarrhea is one I always misspell, too. As well as the word definitely. I hate that fucking word. I had problems with the word necessary for a long time, but I have managed to tame that bad boy.

Description : Are Pokemon names an amalgam of two words in other languages like they are in English?

Last Answer : answer:I also love the first 151, I used to know pretty much all of them by their numbers. I was shocked when I went to search for Pokémons right now and found out that nowadays there are ... Kobra. There was also Abra, Kadabra and Alakazam, they were quite the magicians ! I miss my childhood

Description : What British words or expressions do you enjoy and wish you could use in North America?

Last Answer : answer:I love “wanker,” though I know it’s a word you should use judiciously. Really descriptive. I also like “oy,” as in “hey!” And many others.

Description : What kind of words are used and which are avoided when talking to someone who's clinically depressed?

Last Answer : answer:When I was seeing a psychiatrist, he called my behavior “droopy,” However, I was also comfortable with being called “situationally depressed.” He confirmed the fact that anyone in my situation would have been depressed. Fine-tuning the vocabulary was not an issue for me.

Description : What comforting words do you give friends who are suffering?

Last Answer : Sometimes the best thing is to just be there. That speaks way more than words.

Description : Made-up words for specific terms or expressions, a la Grok?

Last Answer : Ansible.

Description : Does anyone use this to help them remember the spelling of specific words?

Last Answer : Sometimes Happens In Theory

Description : With which words do you prefer to scorn common definitions in favor of their old school usage?

Last Answer : I still prefer normality to normalcy . . . (and I wasn’t even alive during the Harding Administration).

Description : Is it better to speak simply to prove a point than to use words incorrectly?

Last Answer : answer:Yes, unless it’s not incorrect usage so much as new usage or a neologism. It’s court tv: clearly, these people already have something wrong with them, seeing as how they’ve chosen to go on court tv.

Description : What words do you use to replace swearing?

Last Answer : I don’t generally but if I must I say ‘fudging flamingoes’.

Description : Where's the best place online to quickly hear French prouncations of words?

Last Answer : Google Translate has a “read aloud” feature. The French computer voice is pretty decent. Just enter your text into the box and click “listen”.

Description : Do curse words crack you up?

Last Answer : I don’t fuckin’ know. I cuss so damn much that I hardly notice when others do anyway, though a well placed “fucknugget” or “cuntmaster” will always make me chuckle a bit.

Description : In French, how do you add swear words to a question?

Last Answer : I know only a few words in French so i can't translate the sentence you put in your question Putain on est censé faire quoi? , but the first word might translate to whore/prostutute, since in Spanish ... could have been something like: You son of a bitch/whore, what are we supposed to do now? .

Description : For ask-publicites 60 and over, in the 1950s and early 1960s, did people use vulgar language as much as they do today, and if they did use profanity, what sort of bad words did they use in those days?

Last Answer : Dangit!! Dag Nabit….shucks! Jimminy Crickets!! Yark! ;)

Description : What is something you say/do when you are lost for words, speechless, dumbstruck?

Last Answer : “Uhhhhhhhhh….........”.

Description : Does it bother you when certain people swear or use curse words? Either way, why?

Last Answer : Yes, it bothers me if they use profanity in general conversation, though not as an exclamation – as when someone has just stubbed their toe. It indicates a coarser type of intellect, one that lacks erudition. Cursing is sign of limited imagination – there are many better ways to express yourself.

Description : Can you tell me which of these words are from Latinoamerica Spanish and/or Espana Spanish?

Last Answer : Basically anything with ‘illa’ on the end is the south american derivative…. it’s only added to words in Spain when they’re trying to be cute.

Description : Using swear words - why censor?

Last Answer : Some people just need to lighten the fuck up.

Description : Do all languages share words that are not modern?

Last Answer : answer:Some online dictionaries do provide the etymology of words. List of oldest languages

Description : Why are the words for human reproductive organs used as insults?

Last Answer : It’s not as much fun when you call someone a spleen.

Description : Why do I write words in the air with my index finger?

Last Answer : Do you stop at the midline and change hands?

Description : Are there any words that are almost completely universal?

Last Answer : “Okay”, just a guess.

Description : Why are actions louder than words?

Last Answer : Actions demonstrate. Words rely on the interpretation of the listener and are more easily misunderstood.

Description : Don't you just hate some new made-up words?

Last Answer : Yes. “Unfriended” makes me want to vomit.

Description : When or where did the words "real talk" come from?

Last Answer : I don’t know about the accuracy of the information, but here’s a link from the Urban Dictionary: http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=real+talk

Description : What words do you use in place of the correct word?

Last Answer : Does “wedding tackle” count?

Description : Are you tired of N-Words, and F-Words and C-Words?

Last Answer : Bukowski said, “I turned around in the shower and burnt my bunghole.”

Description : Why are curse words considered bad? where did they originate?

Last Answer : Over time as a society, we decided there were certain words that had a certain special power and weren't to be used all the time. They were only to be used out of anger, either anger at ... have lost that special power and more words will continue to lose it and I have no problem with that.

Description : I recall visiting a language translator website where words and phrases are translated in real-time as you type them?

Last Answer : is it free? that’s wicked hahaha now i can be french stress-free

Description : Why are some swear words more offensive than others?

Last Answer : Short answer ? Because it is about women. And since society mostly have seen women as fragile little things, they shal have to be protected so much more. Ergo, an insult about/to a woman is worse than if it is towards a man.

Description : What are some words that make you laugh?

Last Answer : I always kinda liked girdle.

Description : Are certain words self-negating (particularly when used in first person)?

Last Answer : I don’t understand how you are using self-negating here – do you mean a winner automatically becomes not-a-winner just because he caled himself one?

Description : The words in the passage that suggest there was a blast include (1) fire, heat, confusion, overturned and chaos. (2) blazed, dazed, heroic, succumbed and paralysis. (3) broken glass, cuts, bruises and sycamores. (4) rescue, quadrangle, altruism, trigger and heat.

Last Answer : (1) fire, heat, confusion, overturned and chaos

Description : What do recent words mean ?

Last Answer : modern , fancy , previous

Description : Is there a branch of science that studies how the meaning of sentences can change depending on how they are spoken?

Last Answer : Would that be a science or an art? And, BTW “Dude” has many of the same attributes as your example “No”. It is extremely versatile and depending upon the inflection and tone can assume a wide variety of meanings.

Description : How would the idiom "Train Wreck" be translated into French and maintain its meaning?

Last Answer : Still kinda looking for someone fluent in other languages than English. We had another meeting today that could have been an email. I’m just glad I’m not in charge.

Description : What is the meaning of sipfy?

Last Answer : I’m probably wrong, but I thought it was sempfy?....

Description : What is the correct spelling and meaning of luftather ?

Last Answer : Luftwaffe?

Description : What is the meaning of the Yiddish word transliterated as 'tsenerickt' or 'tsaynerickt'?

Last Answer : I couldn’t get it. At first, I thought I might not know the word, but then my dictionary confirmed it. What was the context? Perhaps you should adjust the transliteration and then try it here yourself: http://www.yiddishdictionaryonline.com/ Welcome to fluther, neshamele.

Description : What is the Latin stem of the word "mae" adj. meaning my?

Last Answer : It’s “meae”. You’re missing an “e”. Meae is the dative and genitive singular feminine form of meus-a-um. And for dative plural it’s “meis”, not “mis”.