Blog #3. (Meaning, intention, and context.)

In the chapter “literature, meaning, and interpretation,” Culler states three different dimensions, there are the meaning of word, of an utterance, and of a text. I am interested in“ meaning, intention, and context” in this chapter.  People are accustomed to thinking that the meaning of an utterance is what someone means, or understand the intention rather than meaning.  Actually, intention, text, context, and readers all determine the meaning. They influence meaning together. Culler states that the meaning of work is what the writer accomplished, not what the writer thinks during the process of writing and what the writer’s thinking at some moment in writing.  Meaning is a notion, it is more about what people understand and try to understand in the text. Culler says “meaning is context-bound, but context is boundless.” I think this sentence is the most important point of this part of the chapter. For example, my friend asked if I had a good day on my birthday, I answered yes. The meaning of this thing is that I had a good experience on my birthday. My friend may think that I received a lot of previous gifts and think about what a beautiful place that I did. She began to imagine more details about context. People can read the same article and experience the meaning, they will construct different contexts.  We watched a movie as young, as we are adults, we will watch it again, we will have different feelings. The context is changing because of the background. Meaning is context-bound, but context is boundless. 

2 thoughts on “Blog #3. (Meaning, intention, and context.)

  1. Xu Ye

    Hi QiPu,
    I totally agree with what you mentioned people can read same article, however, they will construct different contexts. The meaning of the words we talk and read is based on difference. People have their own understandings which depends on personal encounter, culture, language, belief and so forth. There is not a clear answer to tell what is the meaning for you.

  2. Samikshya Acharya

    I agree with you. Language doesn’t provide labels for pre-existing categories as it generates its own categories speakers and we can be brought to see through and around the settings of their language, in order to see alternate reality.

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