Curs 8.11.

2022
characteristics of concepts
Essential
Non-essential
Shared
Distinguishing
Terminological definitions (specialized)
[GE] Mouse: small rodent, an input device that allows you to move the courser, shy, timid:
“you are such a mouse” = you are so shy (used in colloquial language)

meaning
1

meaning
2 word meaning
3

meaning
4

ESP dictionary
Mouse: in zoology
Mouse: in IT
We define CONCEPTS not TERMS
1 concept: 1 term

Definitions is the link between the concept and the term

Context=content=concept

Types of specialized definitions

1) Intentional definitions
- Provide the characteristic of concepts
- The superordinate concept + characteristics (distinguishing chs)
- Superordinate concept = in a hierarchy is the generic and the whole
Lead pencil – pencil
Writing instrument
When writing a definition we should keep in mind the target audience, who are we writing it
for.
Writing instrument is the superordinate generic and what it contains is the partitive

2) Extensional definitions
- It is the way it extends
- A type of definition that just lists subordinate concepts

3) Contextual definitions
4) Definitions by synonymy

– you just give a synonym

- It helps non specialists

 Single – concept – principle = one concept – one term

 Conceptual coherence

Ex: Water – if you define it from a physical perspective then you should use terms
specific to that domain, but if you define it in a chemistry dictionary, you use different
terminology, you see things differently
 Conciseness - n. Simply put, definitions should be as short as possible and as
complex as necessary.
- Say the essential is as few words as you can

 Affirmativeness
- Do not use negative terms
- What a concept is and NOT what is is not
 Noncircularity
- Don’t make your definition circular
DEFINITIONS THAT ARE WRONG

 Incomplete definitions
- The distinguishing characteristics are missing
- Widower: married man (e.g. what about bachelor?)
- promotion (marketing): component of the marketing mix. (e.g. What about the
product, the price and other components?) mechanical pencil (stationery): writing
instrument composed of a barrel and a refill. (What about pens, ballpoint pens,
felt-tip pens, etc.?)
 Restrictive definitions (too narrow)
 Circular definitions
- A definition that uses the same terms ( circular definition (lexicography,
terminography): a definition that is circular; evergreen tree (botany): tree with
evergreen foliage)
 Negative definitions
- negative definitions do not provide useful information about the defined concept;
instead, they state what the concept is not or what it does not have:
- but sometimes these types of definitions cannot be avoided (e.g. poverty = lack of
money)
 ( se gaseste la lecture notes intre pagina 17-23)

RECAPITULARE

1) Intentional definitions based on

- Generic relations (type of)
- Partitive relations (part of) may be continued
- Associative relations
2) Extensional definitions (list of subordinate concept)
3) Contextual definitions
4) By synonyms

What should not be missing from a definition: distinguishing characteristics

Exercises