Week 2 Reading

These flashcards cover key vocabulary related to cultural representation, language, and meaning-making as discussed in the lecture notes.

Cultural Circuit

The network of processes that connect meaning and representation within a culture.

Representation

Using language to describe or depict something, creating meaning about the world.

Reflective Approach

A theory that suggests language reflects pre-existing meanings in the world.

Intentional Approach

A concept that focuses on how authors impose their intended meanings through language.

Constructionist Approach

A perspective that views meaning as constructed through language and social practices.

Signs

Elements such as words, sounds, or images that carry meaning within a language.

Arbitrary Relationship

The lack of a natural connection between a sign (like a word) and its meaning or concept.

Conceptual Map

A mental representation of categories and relationships that organizes perceptions of the world.

Signifying Practice

The process by which meaning is produced through the use of signs in language.

Cultural Codes

Social conventions that govern the relationships between concepts and signs, enabling communication.