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Paragraph Summary Questions
27. The passage given below is followed by four summaries. Choose the option that best captures the authorâs position.
A fundamental property of language is that it is slippery and messy and more liquid than solid, a gelatinous mass that changes shape to fit. As Wittgenstein would remind us, âusage has no sharp boundary.â Oftentimes, the only way to determine the meaning of a word is to examine how it is used. This insight is often described as the âmeaning is useâ doctrine. There are differences between the âmeaning is use" doctrine and a dictionary-first theory of meaning. âThe dictionaryâs careful fixing of words to definitions, like butterflies pinned under glass, can suggest that this is how language works. The definitions can seem to ensure and fix the meaning of words, just as the gold standard can back a countryâs currency.â What Wittgenstein found in the circulation of ordinary language, however, was a free-floating currency of meaning. The value of each word arises out of the exchange. The lexicographer abstracts a meaning from that exchange, which is then set within the conventions of the dictionary definition.
A. Dictionary definitions are like âgold standardsâ - artificial, theoretical and dogmatic. Actual meaning of words is their free-exchange value.
B. Language is already slippery; given this, accounting for âmeaning in useâ will only exasperate the problem. That is why lexicographers âfixâ meanings.
C. Meaning is dynamic; definitions are static. The âmeaning in useâ theory helps us understand that definitions of words are culled from their meaning in exchange and use and not vice versa.
D. The meaning of words in dictionaries is clear, fixed and less dangerous and ambiguous than the meaning that arises when words are exchanged between people.
âSolution with Explanation
Correct Answer:C
Detailed explanation by Wordpandit:
Though the passage compares dictionary definitions to gold standards, the author is not saying that those definitions are âartificial, theoretical and dogmaticâ. Hence Option A can be eliminated.
As per the passage, âThe lexicographer abstracts a meaning⊠which is then set within the conventions of the dictionary definitionâ. There is no mention of the reason âwhyâ lexicographers do so. Hence Option B is also incorrect.
Option C provides a succinct summary of the passage. According to the passage, language is like a gelatinous mass that can be moulded according to circumstances. The âmeaning in useâ theory assists by selecting the definition of words as per the meaning implied by the word in normal exchange.
Option D draws a comparison between the meaning of words as given in dictionaries versus the meaning which arises during verbal exchange between people. That is not what the passage is aiming at. Hence Option D can also be eliminated.
Option C is the correct answer.
Word 1: Gelatinous
Context:
"A fundamental property of language is that it is slippery and messy and more liquid than solid, a gelatinous mass that changes shape to fit" - Linguistic Commentary
Explanatory Paragraph:
"Gelatinous" is used to describe something that resembles gelatinâthick, sticky, wobbly, and semi-solid. In this context, it metaphorically describes language as being soft, fluid, and ever-changing rather than fixed or rigid. Just like jelly changes shape depending on its container, language adapts, morphs, and flows depending on its use. The term adds a vivid, almost tactile quality to the way we understand the flexibility of words and meanings.
Meaning: Having a jelly-like, thick and soft consistency (Adjective)
Pronunciation: juh-LAT-uh-nus
Difficulty Level: âââ Intermediate
Etymology: From Latin "gelatina" meaning "jelly", derived from "gelare" meaning âto freeze or congeal.â
Prashant Sir's Notes:
Though it sounds scientific or culinary, "gelatinous" can be powerfully descriptive in figurative writing. It's a great word when describing things that lack firmnessâwhether physically or metaphorically. Think of jelly or even ideas that donât hold shape easily.
Synonyms & Antonyms:
Synonyms: jelly-like, gooey, viscous, thick, semi-solid
Antonyms: solid, hard, firm, rigid
Usage Examples:
- The dessert had a strange gelatinous texture that some people found unappetizing.
- The creatureâs gelatinous body shimmered in the moonlight.
- The idea remained gelatinous, never quite forming into a solid plan.
- A gelatinous mass oozed from the science experiment gone wrong.
Cultural Reference:
"The Blob" (1958 horror film) featured a giant gelatinous alien that consumed everything in its path â a classic image of unstoppable goo!
Think About It:
Can something gelatinousâlacking in solid formâstill have strength or influence? How does that apply to language or ideas?
Quick Activity:
Think of three things youâve encountered (in food, nature, or ideas) that felt or seemed gelatinous. Describe them in one sentence each.
Memory Tip:
âGelatinousâ comes from âgelatinââso if it looks or feels like jelly, this is your word!
Real-World Application:
"Gelatinous" is useful in scientific, culinary, and literary contexts. Whether describing biology (a jellyfish), food (Jell-O), or a metaphor (language or thought), it's a vivid adjective for anything thatâs neither solid nor liquid.
Word 2: Doctrine
Context:
"Oftentimes, the only way to determine the meaning of a word is to examine how it is used. This insight is often described as the 'meaning is use' doctrine" - Linguistic Philosophy
Explanatory Paragraph:
"Doctrine" refers to a set of beliefs, principles, or teachings that are accepted and promoted by a particular group, field, or school of thought. In this context, the âmeaning is useâ doctrine represents a guiding principle in language philosophy: that the meaning of a word is shaped by how it is used in real situations rather than by fixed definitions. Doctrines are not just religiousâthey also exist in education, politics, science, and philosophy, where they act as foundational ideas.
Meaning: A belief or set of beliefs held and taught by a group, especially in philosophy, religion, or academia (Noun)
Pronunciation: DOK-trin
Difficulty Level: âââ Intermediate
Etymology: From Latin "doctrina" meaning "teaching, instruction," from "doctor" (teacher), derived from "docere" (to teach)
Prashant Sir's Notes:
âDoctrineâ is a high-level conceptâuse it when referring to formal ideas or structured beliefs that guide actions or thinking. Itâs not a casual word; it brings weight and authority to the idea it describes. Philosophy, law, and religion use this term frequently.
Synonyms & Antonyms:
Synonyms: principle, belief, ideology, tenet, dogma
Antonyms: doubt, skepticism, disbelief, rejection
Usage Examples:
- The school follows a doctrine of student-centered learning.
- The âjust warâ doctrine has been debated by philosophers and politicians alike.
- Religious doctrines often guide ethical and social behavior.
- The courtâs decision was influenced by established legal doctrines.
Cultural Reference:
"The Truman Doctrine (1947) marked a pivotal U.S. foreign policy shift during the Cold War, aimed at containing communism." - Political History
Think About It:
When does a doctrine help guide thinking, and when might it limit new ideas or innovation?
Quick Activity:
Identify one doctrine you've encountered (in school, religion, politics, or family). Summarize its main belief in a sentence.
Memory Tip:
âDoctrineâ shares roots with âdoctorâ â think of a doctor of philosophy teaching core beliefs or principles.
Real-World Application:
Understanding the term âdoctrineâ is essential when reading philosophy, political theory, religion, or law. It helps clarify how organized systems guide thought and action in structured environments.
Word 3: Fixing
Context:
"The dictionaryâs careful fixing of words to definitions, like butterflies pinned under glass, can suggest that this is how language works." - Linguistic Commentary
Explanatory Paragraph:
"Fixing" in this context refers to the act of assigning or attaching something in a way that makes it appear permanent or unchanging. Here, it metaphorically describes how dictionaries try to pin down the meaning of words, much like capturing butterfliesâfree-flowing thingsâunder glass. The word captures a tension between the fluid nature of language and the attempt to rigidly define or contain it. "Fixing" doesnât always mean ârepairingââit can also mean âsecuring in place.â
Meaning: The act of making something firm, definite, or unchanging; also, attaching or assigning something (Noun - gerund of "fix")
Pronunciation: FIKS-ing
Difficulty Level: ââ Basic
Etymology: From Latin "fixare", meaning âto fasten or make firm,â derived from "figere" (to pierce or fasten).
Prashant Sir's Notes:
"Fixing" is a flexible word. Beyond repairs, it also refers to setting, securing, or determining something. In philosophy and linguistics, it takes on deeper meaningâhow we try to 'fix' fluid concepts like language or memory into stable forms.
Synonyms & Antonyms:
Synonyms: attaching, securing, establishing, assigning, fastening
Antonyms: loosening, freeing, detaching, unfastening
Usage Examples:
- The fixing of the date for the exam was delayed.
- His fixing of blame on others was unfair.
- The artist resisted the fixing of one meaning to her work.
- Fixing language to strict definitions ignores its evolving nature.
Cultural Reference:
"Like fixing stars into constellations, we impose structure where nature offers fluidity." â Metaphor used in literary criticism
Think About It:
Can the act of âfixingâ something take away its original beauty, especially when that thing is meant to be flexible or evolving?
Quick Activity:
List two meanings of âfixingââone as ârepairingâ and another as âsecuring.â Write a sentence for each.
Memory Tip:
Think of âfixingâ like pinning something on a boardâitâs held in place, often forever. Thatâs what dictionaries do to words!
Real-World Application:
"Fixing" is used in everyday language, construction, literature, and linguistics. Understanding its different sensesârepair, assign, secureâmakes your communication more precise and insightful.
Word 4: Circulation
Context:
"What Wittgenstein found in the circulation of ordinary language, however, was a free-floating currency of meaning" - Philosophical Discussion
Explanatory Paragraph:
"Circulation" here refers to the movement and exchange of language and meaning in everyday life. Just like money moves from hand to hand, words flow through conversations, cultures, and contextsâpicking up new meanings as they go. Wittgenstein observed that language does not stay fixed but gains value and function through use and interaction. The word "circulation" captures the dynamic, living nature of how language operates across different users and scenarios.
Meaning: The continuous movement or exchange of something within a system (Noun)
Pronunciation: sur-kyoo-LAY-shun
Difficulty Level: ââ Basic
Etymology: From Latin "circulatio" meaning "a moving in a circle," from "circulus" (circle)
Prashant Sir's Notes:
"Circulation" isn't just for blood or moneyâitâs also key to how ideas, words, and even influence move. In language, it emphasizes that words don't live in dictionaries; they live in mouths, books, chats, tweets, and speechesâconstantly evolving.
Synonyms & Antonyms:
Synonyms: flow, movement, exchange, distribution, diffusion
Antonyms: stagnation, stillness, block, halt
Usage Examples:
- The circulation of rumors can be faster than the spread of truth.
- Proper blood circulation is essential for good health.
- Ideas gained strength through their circulation in academic journals.
- The magazine has a weekly circulation of over 100,000 copies.
Cultural Reference:
"Marshall McLuhan emphasized how media affects the circulation of meaning and the structure of society." - Media Studies
Think About It:
How does the circulation of words and ideas change depending on who is speaking and who is listening?
Quick Activity:
Track a word youâve recently heard used in different settings (e.g., school, social media, news). Describe how its tone or meaning shifted in each case.
Memory Tip:
Think of âcirculationâ like air or moneyâit moves around. In language too, circulation = communication in motion.
Real-World Application:
Understanding "circulation" is essential in economics, medicine, media, and language studies. It explains how things gain value through movementâbe it cash, blood, or ideas.
Word 5: Lexicographer
Context:
"The lexicographer abstracts a meaning from that exchange, which is then set within the conventions of the dictionary definition." - Linguistic Commentary
Explanatory Paragraph:
A "lexicographer" is someone who writes, edits, or compiles dictionaries. In this context, the lexicographer is seen as a person who distills or extracts meaning from the real-life usage of words, and then formalizes that meaning in dictionary form. It's a role that blends linguistic observation, analytical thinking, and precise writing. Far from being just a collector of words, a lexicographer shapes how future generations understand and use language.
Meaning: A person who writes or compiles dictionaries (Noun)
Pronunciation: lek-sih-KAW-gruh-fur
Difficulty Level: âââ Intermediate
Etymology: From Greek "lexis" meaning âwordâ + "graphos" meaning âwriterâ â literally, a writer of words.
Prashant Sir's Notes:
The lexicographerâs job is both scientific and creative. They must observe how language is actually used and then craft definitions that are clear, neutral, and accessible. Understanding this role helps students respect dictionaries not as fixed authorities, but as thoughtful interpretations of a living language.
Synonyms & Antonyms:
Synonyms: dictionary writer, language compiler, linguistic analyst
Antonyms: (no direct antonyms, but conceptually opposite roles may include) language user, speaker, informal communicator
Usage Examples:
- The lexicographer added several new slang terms to the latest edition of the dictionary.
- As a lexicographer, she spent years studying how words evolve in modern English.
- No lexicographer can fully capture a wordâs richness, but they do their best to record its core meaning.
- Lexicographers rely on vast databases of text to track language usage patterns.
Cultural Reference:
"Samuel Johnson, one of the most famous lexicographers, published his influential *Dictionary of the English Language* in 1755." - Literary History
Think About It:
If language is always changing, should lexicographers aim to fix meaningâor simply reflect usage?
Quick Activity:
Choose a word you use often. Try to write a one-sentence definition for itâjust like a lexicographer would. Then compare it with a dictionary version.
Memory Tip:
Break it down: âLexiâ (words) + âgrapherâ (writer) = lexicographer â a writer of words, especially in dictionaries.
Real-World Application:
Lexicographers play a vital role in education, publishing, and linguistics. Their work shapes how people learn languages, write formally, and understand meanings across time and culture.
