LANGUAGE AND COMMUNICATION: AN INTRODUCTION TO APPROACHES TO MEANING AND TEXT ANALYSIS
Keywords:
Language, communication, meaning, linguistics, pragmatics, critical discourse analysis.
Abstract
This paper explores the concept of language and communication. It gives an exposition to the study of meaning as it diachronically investigates the theories and approaches to meaning. The crux of the study is that language is central to linguistic communication. It explains concept of meaning in language with the various theories of meaning, such as the traditional referential, ideational, behavioural, and contextual theories of meaning. It also examines some modern theoretical developments on meaning. It carries out the pragmatics and critical discourse analysis of some selected texts to demonstrate the application of some of the approaches to meaning in Language. It concludes on the ground that an understanding of approaches to meaning in language would enhance the development of knowledge and promote successful communication in various situations.
References
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Adesida, A.A. 2007. Language and discourse dynamism: a study of Adenike Akinjobi’s family secrets. Asset series C, Vol. 1.
Adesida, A.A. 2006. Language and nation
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Kmajian, A., Denvers, A., Farmer, N.K., Harnish, M. 1992. Linguistics: an introduction to Language and Communication. Cambridge: MIT.
Austin, J.L. 1962. How to do things with words. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Brown, G., Yule, G. 1983. Discourse analysis. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Cruse, D.A. 1990. Language, meaning and sense: semantics. In N.E. Collinge (ed.) An encyclopaedia of language (pp.139-172). London: Routledge.
Cruse, D.A. 1986. Lexical semantics. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
de Beaugrande, R. 1984. Linguistics as discourse: a case study from semantics. In Word. 35(1).
Eggins, S. 1994. An introduction to systemic functional linguistics. London: Pinter.
Fairclough, N. 1992. Discourse and social change. London: Polity Press.
Fairclough, N. 1995. Critical discourse analysis: the critical study of language. London: Longman.
Fairclough, N. 2001. Language and power (2nd ed.). London: Longman.
Fairclough, N. 2001. The dialectics of discourse. In Textus XIV.2 2001a pp.231-242.
Fairclough, N. 2005a. Critical discourse analysis. In Marges Linguistiques 9:76-94.
Fairclough, N. 2005b. Critical discourse analysis in tran-disciplinary research on social change: transition, re-scaling, poverty, and social inclusion. In Lodz papers in Pragmatics 1, 2005 pp. 37- 58.
Fairclough, N. 2005c. Governance, partnership and participation: cooperation and conflict (an unpublished paper given at the conference of International Association for Dialogue Analysis, Bucharest 2005 ).
Fowler, R. 1996. On critical linguistics. In C.R. Caldas-Coulthard and M. Coulthard (Eds.) Text and practices (pp.3-14). London: Routledge.
Fromkin, V., Rodman, R. 1978. An introduction to language. 2nd edition. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Wiston.
Grice, H.P. 1975. Logic and conversation. In P.Cole, & J.J. Morgan (ed.) Syntax and semantics: speech acts. New York:Academic Press.
Halliday, M.A.K. 1985. An introduction to functional grammar. London: Edward Arnold.
Lamidi, T. 2000. Language: varieties and content. In Babajide, A. O. (Ed) Studies in English Language (pp.105-121). Ibadan: Enicrownfit Publishers.
Leech, G., Thomas, J. 1990. Language, meaning and context: pragmatics. In N.E. Collinge (ed.) An encyclopaedia of language (pp.173-243). London: Routledge.
McCarthy, M. 1991. Discourse analysis for language teachers. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Ogunsiji, A. 2000. Introductory semantics. In Babajide, A. O. (Ed) Studies in English Language(pp.43-59). Ibadan: Enicrownfit Publishers.
Ogden, C.K., Richards, I.A. 1972. The meaning of meaning. (10th edition) London: Routledge & Kegan Paul Ltd.
Oyeshile, O.A. 2000. Philosophy and languages the nature of philosopher’s interest in language. In Babajide, A. O. (Ed.) Studies in English Language (pp.168-187). Ibadan: Enicrownfit Publishers.
Oyewo, Y. 2000. Human Communication: an introduction. In Babajide, A. O. (Ed) Studies in English Language (pp.149-166). Ibadan: Enicrownfit Publishers.
Searle, J.R. 1969. Speech Acts: an essay in philosophy of language. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Soyinka, W. 2004. Climate of fear. Ibadan: Bookcraft.
van Dijk, T.A. 1996. Discourse, power and access. In C.R. Caldas-Coulthard and M. Coulthard (Eds.) Text and practices (pp.84-106). London: Routledge.
van Leeuwen, T. 1996 . The Representation of social actors. In C.R. Caldas-Coulthard and M. Coulthard (Eds.) Text and practices (pp.32-70). London: Routledge.
Adesida, A.A. 2007. Language and discourse dynamism: a study of Adenike Akinjobi’s family secrets. Asset series C, Vol. 1.
Adesida, A.A. 2006. Language and nation
building: a study of global system of mobile communication in contemporary Nigeria. In Osiele Journal of Arts and Social Sciences (OJASS), 6:66-75.
Akindele, F., Adegbite, W. 1999. The sociology and politics of English in Nigeria: an introduction. Ile-Ife: Obafemi Awolowo University Press.
Kmajian, A., Denvers, A., Farmer, N.K., Harnish, M. 1992. Linguistics: an introduction to Language and Communication. Cambridge: MIT.
Austin, J.L. 1962. How to do things with words. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Brown, G., Yule, G. 1983. Discourse analysis. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Cruse, D.A. 1990. Language, meaning and sense: semantics. In N.E. Collinge (ed.) An encyclopaedia of language (pp.139-172). London: Routledge.
Cruse, D.A. 1986. Lexical semantics. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
de Beaugrande, R. 1984. Linguistics as discourse: a case study from semantics. In Word. 35(1).
Eggins, S. 1994. An introduction to systemic functional linguistics. London: Pinter.
Fairclough, N. 1992. Discourse and social change. London: Polity Press.
Fairclough, N. 1995. Critical discourse analysis: the critical study of language. London: Longman.
Fairclough, N. 2001. Language and power (2nd ed.). London: Longman.
Fairclough, N. 2001. The dialectics of discourse. In Textus XIV.2 2001a pp.231-242.
Fairclough, N. 2005a. Critical discourse analysis. In Marges Linguistiques 9:76-94.
Fairclough, N. 2005b. Critical discourse analysis in tran-disciplinary research on social change: transition, re-scaling, poverty, and social inclusion. In Lodz papers in Pragmatics 1, 2005 pp. 37- 58.
Fairclough, N. 2005c. Governance, partnership and participation: cooperation and conflict (an unpublished paper given at the conference of International Association for Dialogue Analysis, Bucharest 2005 ).
Fowler, R. 1996. On critical linguistics. In C.R. Caldas-Coulthard and M. Coulthard (Eds.) Text and practices (pp.3-14). London: Routledge.
Fromkin, V., Rodman, R. 1978. An introduction to language. 2nd edition. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Wiston.
Grice, H.P. 1975. Logic and conversation. In P.Cole, & J.J. Morgan (ed.) Syntax and semantics: speech acts. New York:Academic Press.
Halliday, M.A.K. 1985. An introduction to functional grammar. London: Edward Arnold.
Lamidi, T. 2000. Language: varieties and content. In Babajide, A. O. (Ed) Studies in English Language (pp.105-121). Ibadan: Enicrownfit Publishers.
Leech, G., Thomas, J. 1990. Language, meaning and context: pragmatics. In N.E. Collinge (ed.) An encyclopaedia of language (pp.173-243). London: Routledge.
McCarthy, M. 1991. Discourse analysis for language teachers. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Ogunsiji, A. 2000. Introductory semantics. In Babajide, A. O. (Ed) Studies in English Language(pp.43-59). Ibadan: Enicrownfit Publishers.
Ogden, C.K., Richards, I.A. 1972. The meaning of meaning. (10th edition) London: Routledge & Kegan Paul Ltd.
Oyeshile, O.A. 2000. Philosophy and languages the nature of philosopher’s interest in language. In Babajide, A. O. (Ed.) Studies in English Language (pp.168-187). Ibadan: Enicrownfit Publishers.
Oyewo, Y. 2000. Human Communication: an introduction. In Babajide, A. O. (Ed) Studies in English Language (pp.149-166). Ibadan: Enicrownfit Publishers.
Searle, J.R. 1969. Speech Acts: an essay in philosophy of language. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Soyinka, W. 2004. Climate of fear. Ibadan: Bookcraft.
van Dijk, T.A. 1996. Discourse, power and access. In C.R. Caldas-Coulthard and M. Coulthard (Eds.) Text and practices (pp.84-106). London: Routledge.
van Leeuwen, T. 1996 . The Representation of social actors. In C.R. Caldas-Coulthard and M. Coulthard (Eds.) Text and practices (pp.32-70). London: Routledge.
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