Meaning Making Lecture

How Do You Mean?

MeaningSomething in a text?Something you do?

Something you make?

Yes.

Try to make sense of the following quotation…

“…ongoing tension between durability and mobility—between marble and papyrus—had determined what kinds of information gained

visibility in its own time and what has been preserved for subsequent generations.

Why is it so hard to know what it means?

We’ll come back to this quotation later. For now, let’s try an experiment.

Do you recognize the following lines?

I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse.

Help me understand it.

What do I need to know, in order to understand it?

Okay, now say something about it.

What sorts of things might you say about it?

Why mention it at all?

• Importance in your life.

Why mention it at all?

• Importance in your life.• Connection to another

movie (or something else).

Why mention it at all?

• Importance in your life.• Connection to another

movie (or something else).

• It’s an example of something important.

Why mention it at all?

• Importance in your life.• Connection to another

movie (or something else).

• It’s an example of something important.

• It says something in an interesting way.

Why mention it at all?

• Importance in your life.• Connection to another

movie (or something else).

• It’s an example of something important.

• It says something in an interesting way.

• It reinforces another idea?

Why mention it at all?

• Importance in your life.• Connection to another

movie (or something else).

• It’s an example of something important.

• It says something in an interesting way.

• It reinforces another idea?

• It’s evidence for a point you hope to make.

Why mention it at all?

• Importance in your life.• Connection to another

movie (or something else).

• It’s an example of something important.

• It says something in an interesting way.

• It reinforces another idea?

• It’s evidence for a point you hope to make.

• It reveals something about a character or topic.

Why mention it at all?

• Importance in your life.• Connection to another

movie (or something else).

• It’s an example of something important.

• It says something in an interesting way.

• It reinforces another idea?

• It’s evidence for a point you hope to make.

• It reveals something about a character or topic.

• It answers a question.

Let’s try some more.

Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore.

What do I need to know, in order to understand it?

Okay, now say something about it.

Why mention it at all?

• Importance in your life.• Connection to another

movie (or something else).

• It’s an example of something important.

• It says something in an interesting way.

• It reinforces another idea?

• It’s evidence for a point you hope to make.

• It reveals something about a character or topic.

• It answers a question.

Go ahead, make my day.

What do I need to know, in order to understand it?

Okay, now say something about it.

Why mention it at all?

• Importance in your life.• Connection to another

movie (or something else).

• It’s an example of something important.

• It says something in an interesting way.

• It reinforces another idea?

• It’s evidence for a point you hope to make.

• It reveals something about a character or topic.

• It answers a question.

You know how to whistle, don't you, Steve? You just put your lips together and blow.

What do I need to know, in order to understand it?

Okay, now say something about it.

Why mention it at all?

• Importance in your life.• Connection to another

movie (or something else).

• It’s an example of something important.

• It says something in an interesting way.

• It reinforces another idea?

• It’s evidence for a point you hope to make.

• It reveals something about a character or topic.

• It answers a question.

A census taker once tried to test me. I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti.

What do I need to know, in order to understand it?

Okay, now say something about it.

Why mention it at all?

• Importance in your life.• Connection to another

movie (or something else).

• It’s an example of something important.

• It says something in an interesting way.

• It reinforces another idea?

• It’s evidence for a point you hope to make.

• It reveals something about a character or topic.

• It answers a question.

You had me at "hello."

What do I need to know, in order to understand it?

Okay, now say something about it.

Why mention it at all?

• Importance in your life.• Connection to another

movie (or something else).

• It’s an example of something important.

• It says something in an interesting way.

• It reinforces another idea?

• It’s evidence for a point you hope to make.

• It reveals something about a character or topic.

• It answers a question.

You're gonna need a bigger boat.

What do I need to know, in order to understand it?

Okay, now say something about it.

Why mention it at all?

• Importance in your life.• Connection to another

movie (or something else).

• It’s an example of something important.

• It says something in an interesting way.

• It reinforces another idea?

• It’s evidence for a point you hope to make.

• It reveals something about a character or topic.

• It answers a question.

I’ll have what’s she’s having.

What do I need to know, in order to understand it?

Okay, now say something about it.

Why mention it at all?

• Importance in your life.• Connection to another

movie (or something else).

• It’s an example of something important.

• It says something in an interesting way.

• It reinforces another idea?

• It’s evidence for a point you hope to make.

• It reveals something about a character or topic.

• It answers a question.

Okay, let’s try this again.

Try to make sense of the following quotation…

“…ongoing tension between durability and mobility—between marble and papyrus—had determined what kinds of information gained

visibility in its own time and what has been preserved for subsequent generations.

What do I need to know, in order to understand it?

Okay, now say something about it.

Why mention it at all?

• Importance in your life.• Connection to another

movie (or something else).

• It’s an example of something important.

• It says something in an interesting way.

• It reinforces another idea?

• It’s evidence for a point you hope to make.

• It reveals something about a character or topic.

• It answers a question.

So what does this have to do with reading?

So what does this have to do with reading?

Have a fantastic weekend.