What are the components of the triangle of meaning?

The triangle of meaning is a model of communication that indicates the relationship among a thought, symbol, and referent and highlights the indirect relationship between the symbol and referent. Ivor A. Richards and Charles K. Ogden, The Meaning of Meaning (London: Kegan, Paul, Trench, Tubner, 1923). As you can see in Figure 3.1 "Triangle of Meaning", the thought is the concept or idea a person references. The symbol is the word that represents the thought, and the referent is the object or idea to which the symbol refers. This model is useful for us as communicators because when we are aware of the indirect relationship between symbols and referents, we are aware of how common misunderstandings occur, as the following example illustrates: Jasper and Abby have been thinking about getting a new dog. So each of them is having a similar thought. They are each using the same symbol, the word dog, to communicate about their thought. Their referents, however, are different. Jasper is thinking about a small dog like a dachshund, and Abby is thinking about an Australian shepherd. Since the word dog doesn’t refer to one specific object in our reality, it is possible for them to have the same thought, and use the same symbol, but end up in an awkward moment when they get to the shelter and fall in love with their respective referents only to find out the other person didn’t have the same thing in mind.

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• What does the triangle of meaning consist of?
• What are the three key components of the semantic triangle of language and meaning?
• What concepts are included in the triangle of meaning model quizlet?
• How does the idea of the triangle of meaning connected to semantic memory?

Figure 3.1 Triangle of Meaning

Source: Adapted from Ivor A. Richards and Charles K. Ogden, _The Meaning of Meaning (London: Kegan, Paul, Trench, Tubner, 1923)._

Being aware of this indirect relationship between symbol and referent, we can try to compensate for it by getting clarification. Some of what we learned in Chapter 2 "Communication and Perception", about perception checking, can be useful here. Abby might ask Jasper, “What kind of dog do you have in mind?” This question would allow Jasper to describe his referent, which would allow for more shared understanding. If Jasper responds, “Well, I like short-haired dogs. And we need a dog that will work well in an apartment,” then there’s still quite a range of referents. Abby could ask questions for clarification, like “Sounds like you’re saying that a smaller dog might be better. Is that right?” Getting to a place of shared understanding can be difficult, even when we define our symbols and describe our referents.

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Introduction

Charles Kay Ogden (1889–1957) and Ivor Armstrong Richards (1893 – 1979) was an English linguistic and English literary critic. Both of them were recognized by their book called “The Meaning of Meaning: A Study of the Influence of Language upon Thought and of the Science of Symbolism”. Ogden worked as philosopher, writer and linguist. He was a founder and editor of weekly “Cambridge Magazine” in 1912 and later it ceased in 1922. Richards was working as a Professor in Magdalene College at Cambridge. This theory emphasis that the meanings are not residing with words it resides with the people.

Theory

Charles Kay Ogden and Ivor Armstrong Richards identified that understanding comes from within the people rather than from the words they just interpret. They set a model called “The Triangle of Meaning” for better understanding how language works and basically it is a theory of signs. The triangle  is meant to show the word’s relationship between thoughts and things.

The Semantic Triangle shows the direct relationship between Words & Thoughts and Thoughts & Thing. But the dotted lines represent the word (sign) is not the Thing (a referent) and there is no any direct relation between words and thing. The referent needs some prior experience and reference about the word or sign to be comprehensive.

The word means different things to different people in different situations. Any sign or word which has its own meaning is grasped with certain references to it. The process of grasping or understanding words or signs, which already have meaning, with the asserted meanings given by the references is called the meaning of meaning.

Any sign or word have their own meaning even though we need certain reference to understand is called “The Meaning of Meaning”. (1- Dictionary: If a word is new, a people need reference to understand the word. 2- Mayan Code: These codes are signs only. No one cannot understand meaning of the Mayan codes without any reference. So the signs have a direct relationship with reference and reference has direct relationship with referent)

Example 1:

• The Word love makes a different sense to different people. The way in which they understand this word must be in reference with their experiences and ideas relating to this word
• In America, socialism and communism are considered as a negative word. People even use the word communist to degrade other people. whereas in china the word communism is much of a great word and idea

Example 2:

The word “Book” – A people (referent) have some kind of reference (thoughts) in their mind about the shape, size etc. so they can able to visualize it. But the same word “book” is written in some other language will not understandable and they can’t visualize it. The referent needs some kind of previous experience or reference to understand the words otherwise they cannot understand.

Conclusion

Ogden and Richard were improved the Saussure’s dyadic semiotics. The analysis of major psychoanalyzing theories can be seen in this model. This theory is more about misunderstanding and its remedies. Charles Kay Ogden and Ivor Armstrong Richards studied about the misunderstanding that happens due to the difference in understanding worked forward for the remedies. This theory is the product of their working towards the remedy rather than a remedy.

What does the triangle of meaning consist of?

What are the three key components of the semantic triangle of language and meaning?

What concepts are included in the triangle of meaning model quizlet?

How does the idea of the triangle of meaning connected to semantic memory?