1

Tarlac State University

College of Arts and Social Sciences
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE STUDIES

Major 3 Requirement 1: Written Report

Practical function and meaning

A case study of IKEA tables

Group member 1 (Salazar, Rey Christian G.)

Group member 2 (Lundang, Jennifer)

Submission Date: February 02, 2021

Introduction

The main concept of this report is all about the study of practical functions and meanings
of practical objects specifically IKEA tables with regards to human-table interactivity. It was
clearly stated on the said study that tables have a great global impact to humans regardless of its
design, size and shape.
Furthermore, the results of the study will not definitely involve nor be applicable to all
types of table in the world. On a greater sense, just like any other available objects in this world;
an object may have the same characteristic and purpose but absolutely differs from the other
depending on its use and potential needs to human existence.
In addition, the study is intended to identify, describe and differentiate the actual and
theoretical meaning of semiotic resources particularly IKEA tables in contrast with the other
tables. It involves professional interviews and group discussions among the selected participants
of the said study based on their observations and point of views.

Expected Learning Outcomes

 2

After a thorough, comprehensive and extensive reading and understanding about the

practical functions and meaning of practical objects specially IKEA tables will certainly instill in

our mind the following concepts or idea:

 Theoretical explanation about practical objects

 Main idea about semiotic resources

 Appropriate design, size and shape of table depending on its use

 Connection and Contribution of practical objects to humans

 Classification and Categorization of practical objects

 Impact on the distance of table to humans

 Other features of Tables that depends to the culture of a certain country

Activity

Essay:

1. In your own words, what is the essence of practical objects such as tables in human existence?

2. Does the design, size and shape of practical objects such as tables greatly affect its potential

used to humans? Why or why not?

Learning Content

Key Terms

 Denotative - described as that of direct functional meanings, which distinguish one type
of object from another.
 Connotative - defined as stylistic variations in, for example, the shape of objects with
the same functional meaning in 'tradition', 'artistry'
 3

Discussion of Major Concepts

A. Theoretical issues in research on practical objects

The practical function of practical objects in relation to their more symbolic meanings is a
theoretical concern that has been treated in different ways in previous research. Krampen
(1989, 1995). recognizes two meaningful layers in everyday objects. First is denotative layer
is described as that of direct functional meanings. The second layer has to do with
connotative meanings defined as stylistic variations. Connotation is relevant for the
discussion of more local meanings of IKEA tables

Toole (1994: 85), discussing buildings, another type of artefact with obvious practical
uses, first and foremost, the~ for which it has been designed' 'signify their function as use'.
O'Toole classifies this functional meaning of buildings as experiential.

Van Leeuwen is adopted in this study of tables. It seems a difficult task to separate the
practical and the semiotic, although it may be possible to discuss certain aspects of tables
as more symbolic than others.

B. Methodology

This study is primarily concerned with the documentation of semiotic resources of tables.
The concept of semiotic resources comes from social semiotics. In this study of tables, a
semiotic resource is defined as an observable feature of the table. When a semiotic
resource is put to use, it realizes a semiotic potential, or meaning potential, defined as
possible meanings in various contexts

The theoretical semiotic potential of an object has to do with its design, previous uses
and functions. The actual semiotic potentials are those that consider relevant for meaning-
making based on their specific needs in given contexts and their knowledge of the uses of
the resources (Van Leeuwen, 2005a: 4). Consider relevant for meaning-making based on
their specific needs in given contexts and their knowledge of the uses of the resources (Van
Leeuwen, 2005a: 4).

This stage also included interviews with IKEA staff about, among other things, their
professional views of differences between IKEA tables. The second stage was aimed at
describing the actual meaning potential of the tables. Ethnographic approach to the study of
the meanings of domestic objects, this part involved documentation of how SL\: different
IKEA tables were placed in six different homes in the Sydney metropolitan area and
interviews with the owners of the tables.

C. Human-table interactivity

Fleming (1999: 45) discusses the history of the table as a process of increasingly
specified functionality due to more specified human activities and needs. In this perspective,
the basic distinction between IKEA tables seems to be that between tables with space for
human knees underneath the table and tables without such a space. The human body's legs
will almost be covered by the space under the table if the chair in which the person sits is
positioned close enough to the top of the table. Tables without such a space for human
 4

knees do not allow the human body to be absorbed by the table. Such tables, for example
coffee tables, are usually lower with a much more restricted space underneath the table.
Because of the physical distance between human bodies and such tables, the relation is
better described as restrained. the meaning potential of human-table interactivity can be
presented as a number of possible choices in a system network.

The square brackets in Figure 18.1 stand for either/ or relations, e.g., the interactive
meaning potential of a table is either 'intense' or 'restrained'. These meaning potentials are
realized either by knee space under the table or by the lack of such a space, which is
marked by the downward sloping, fully lined arrows in Figure 18.1. The curly bracket
following interpersonal relations in the upper right-hand corner of Figure 18.1 indicates that
the choices that follow can be made simultaneously.

Intense dining and meeting tables, desks and computer tables can be placed on a scale
between human or object orientation marked by double-edged dotted arrows m Figure 18.1.
Restrained coffee, side, storage and pedestal tables have also been placed on such a scale
in Figure 18.1.

Going farther to the right of the system network in Figure 18.1, the tables have possible
effects in relation to the hierarchical interaction between humans seated around the table
and the display of other items. The interpersonal meaning potentials have to do with a
table's potential to structure face to face interaction between the people around it in a
meaningful way. Human-oriented tables, which have this potential to a high degree, can be
described as social facilitators that 'can give groups a different structure than what they
would have without them' (Riggins, 1990: 351).

D. Involvement

The shape of table tops is by far the most important resource for meanings of
involvement in tables. The Bjorkudden rectangular table allows people to face each other
across the two long sides or two short sides from the full-frontal angle of maximum
involvement. This is also the case for a longer, oval table and a square table. The angles of
higher obliqueness, and thus of relatively higher detachment, are created between people
seated at the long sides and short sides, who thus have to turn their heads to face each
other.
 5

A round table does not distinguish between higher involvement and detachment in such
an obvious way and allows for involvement between a larger number of people at the table.
This is why the meaning potential of involvement/ detachment is presented as scaled and
not as an either/ or relation

E. Hierarchy

In tables, the vertical angle can have hierarchical meaning potential, but then it has more
to do with the relative height of the chairs around the table than with specific features of the
table. Just as with involvement, the shape of the table top is the major semiotic resource for
meanings of hierarchy in tables. For rectangular tables like the Bjorkudden table in Figure
18.3, the short ends have a long history of being reserved for the host and hostess or other
important persons. The rectangular table is thus a table with the meaning potential of
hierarchy and differences.

Expressions like 'roundtable meeting' and 'roundtable discussion' has specific

interpersonal potential of the round table. The round table has the meaning potential of
collective equality. The square table, like the rectangular table, separates the different sides
from each other the square table creates an individual separateness between the sides
because of the distinct division between them, but because of their equal length there is no
ranking of the sides. Thus, the square table has the hierarchical meaning potential of
individual equality.

F. Social Distance

The. Main semiotic resource for social distance between people is the size of the table
top. The semiotic principle IS quite simple: the larger the table top, the longer the physical
and symbolic distance between the people surrounding the table. The physical distance
between people facing each other is· often close enough for them to touch each other if they
extend their arms, but it all depends on the size of the table top. In other words, a common
social distance set by intense human oriented tables is calls personal distance-far phase.

However, most tables set up much closer distances between people sitting next to each
other. They are usually placed within the realm of personal distance-close phase which
might be uncomfortable for people who do not have an intimate social relationship. Again,
the angles between people have some importance, in this case to reduce the intimateness
of the close physical distance between partners at a table. It is difficult not to socially engage
with people in the high involvement setting, even though the physical distance may be
longer.

G. The different meanings of the table material

Some features of tables seem to have more culture-specific meaning potentials than the
interactive ones presented in Figure 18.1. These meaning potentials have to do with the
materials of the table and can be described as the more connotative meanings of tables, if
connotation is understood as meaning potentials of semiotic resources with similar practical
functions that are agreed upon within certain cultures or subcultures but not necessarily
across them.
 6

Australian IKEA customers recognize two styles of tables: 'modem' and 'country'.
Modem tables are light, dark brown or black wooden tables, glass tables, and white tables.
Country tables are made of solid wood, medium brown in color, often antique-stained.

The Grimle table is described as modem by all the participants in the study. However, the
white melamine plastic-covered table top and the steel legs seemed to have other meaning
potentials as well, and these varied between the participants with Australian backgrounds
and those with Swedish or (various) Asian backgrounds. In the case of the Grimle table, it
was obvious that the different cultural backgrounds of the participants and attached value
systems for furniture materials were partially oppositional. Glass, and frosted glass in
particular, is a final example of a table material with more culture-specific meaning potential.
he people in the study with various Asian backgrounds tended to like the tables with frosted
glass, and the owner of the Laver table, who had lived in Indonesia for most of his life, said
that glass is 'tidy', 'clean' and 'more luxury' than wood.

Conclusion

The analysis has shown that the main semiotic resources for meanings of human-table
interactivity are the design of the base of the table (knee space or not) and the shape and size
of the table top. It is, however, important to note that this result is based on a study of IKEA
tables and the findings of this study may not applicable to all od1er types of tables. One such
table is the Japanese low table, used for dining. Initially the design of this table may be
considered a restrained table, which is not the case for dining tables from IKEA.

For the more connotative and arguably more culture-specific meaning potentials of
tables, the mam semiotic resource is the material, including its color and solidity. The meaning
potential of 'luxury' and 'tidiness' of frosted glass e:.'l.-pressed by participants witl1 various Asian
background and the contrastive meaning potentials of, among other things, 'formal' and
'informal' for white steel-legged tables proved to be other more culture-specific meanings of
table materials. The theoretical discussion about the design vs. use of practical objects (e.g.,
Cubitt, 1988; Riggins, 1990) had methodological implications for this case study: the semiotic
analysis of more theoretical meaning potentials of the design of the tables was combined with
research methods focusing on uses and actual meaning potentials.

As mentioned, the global-local dimension of meanings of tables can clearly be further

explored, and the tentative claim made here about the more global nature of human-table
interactive meaning potentials could be challenged through further studies of meanings of
practical objects in more or less local cultures and sub-cultures. In the case of tables, we can
perhaps say that the human-table interactive meaning potentials presented in Figure 18.1 are
somewhat more related to practical function than the more connotative meanings of table
materials, but it is a matter of degree. The practical seems to always be somewhat semiotic in
human artefacts.

References

Jewitt, C (ed.) (2009). The Routledge handbook of multimodal analysis. London: Routledge.
7