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Richuk Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
Could anyone help please? Thanks everyone.
Hey everyone I posted a similar question but I did not get any replies – I think my question was over complicated. I have simplified it and I can’t tell you how much I would really appreciate your opinion please. Thank you very much guys.
Speakers opinion 1):
“We learnt so much more in that lesson. I definitely know about the distance time graphs now, hehe.”
Speakers opinion 2):
“We learnt so much less in that lesson. I definitely know about the distance time graphs now, hehe.”
If we say that opinion 1 was said in a genuine way (without any indications of sarcasm) as a listener we assume the student has a very positive opinion regarding the lesson (as the student is saying they learnt a lot and they definitely understand something that was taught). Even with a laugh at the end “hehe” I still feel the student could mean this opinion in a genuinely positive way (maybe they are surprised by their own enthusiasm, etc) – would you agree?
We know from the first part of opinion 2 that the student is displeased with the lesson as they didn’t learn very much. One would expect the following part of opinion 2 “I definitely know about the distance time graphs now, hehe” to also be a negative opinion in some way. Perhaps it could be sarcastic actually meaning the student doesn’t understand distance-time graphs. Or alternatively the second part of opinion 2 (“I definitely know about the distance time graphs now, hehe”) could be meant in a displeased way for example if the student feels distance-time graphs are too basic for their level of education and they are mocking the teacher by actually meaning something like ‘at the very least we know about the distance-time graphs now’.
My main question is if the speaker meant the part of the opinion “I definitely know about the distance time graphs now, hehe” in a negative way regarding the lesson (as in the ways suggested in the above paragraph or any other ways) do you think it would be communicated in a different way to the way it would be communicated if the speaker is pleased/happy that they have definitely understood something? E.g. a different tone of voice for the word “definitely”, perhaps a different type of laugh “hehe” or even other indicators such as rolling eyes, shaking head, sighing, etc? Or do you think the listener could interpret the negative meaning of “I definitely know about the distance time graphs now, hehe” if it was said in a genuine way without any of these clues?
Thank you.
Speakers opinion 1):
“We learnt so much more in that lesson. I definitely know about the distance time graphs now, hehe.”
Speakers opinion 2):
“We learnt so much less in that lesson. I definitely know about the distance time graphs now, hehe.”
If we say that opinion 1 was said in a genuine way (without any indications of sarcasm) as a listener we assume the student has a very positive opinion regarding the lesson (as the student is saying they learnt a lot and they definitely understand something that was taught). Even with a laugh at the end “hehe” I still feel the student could mean this opinion in a genuinely positive way (maybe they are surprised by their own enthusiasm, etc) – would you agree?
We know from the first part of opinion 2 that the student is displeased with the lesson as they didn’t learn very much. One would expect the following part of opinion 2 “I definitely know about the distance time graphs now, hehe” to also be a negative opinion in some way. Perhaps it could be sarcastic actually meaning the student doesn’t understand distance-time graphs. Or alternatively the second part of opinion 2 (“I definitely know about the distance time graphs now, hehe”) could be meant in a displeased way for example if the student feels distance-time graphs are too basic for their level of education and they are mocking the teacher by actually meaning something like ‘at the very least we know about the distance-time graphs now’.
My main question is if the speaker meant the part of the opinion “I definitely know about the distance time graphs now, hehe” in a negative way regarding the lesson (as in the ways suggested in the above paragraph or any other ways) do you think it would be communicated in a different way to the way it would be communicated if the speaker is pleased/happy that they have definitely understood something? E.g. a different tone of voice for the word “definitely”, perhaps a different type of laugh “hehe” or even other indicators such as rolling eyes, shaking head, sighing, etc? Or do you think the listener could interpret the negative meaning of “I definitely know about the distance time graphs now, hehe” if it was said in a genuine way without any of these clues?
Thank you.
Top answer
Speakers opinion 1): “We learnt so much more in that lesson. ” Speakers opinion 2): “We learnt so much less in that lesson. ” To me, the presence of 'hehe' woudn't be the most important thing when determining whether the sentenc(es) were said in a genuine way.
- Speakers opinion 1): “We learnt so much more in that lesson.
- ” Speakers opinion 2): “We learnt so much less in that lesson.
- ” To me, the presence of 'hehe' woudn't be the most important thing when determining whether the sentenc(es) were said in a genuine way.
- What matters is how he/she said those sentences.
- I mean, the tone and gestures the student exhibited when saying those sentences would usually reveal what is meant.
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1 Answers
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Speakers opinion 1):
“We learnt so much more in that lesson. I definitely know about the distance time graphs now, hehe.”
Speakers opinion 2):
“We learnt so much less in that lesson. I definitely know about the distance time graphs now, hehe.”
To me, the presence of 'hehe' woudn't be the most important thing when determining whether the sentenc(es) were said in a genuin
“We learnt so much more in that lesson. I definitely know about the distance time graphs now, hehe.”
Speakers opinion 2):
“We learnt so much less in that lesson. I definitely know about the distance time graphs now, hehe.”
To me, the presence of 'hehe' woudn't be the most important thing when determining whether the sentenc(es) were said in a genuin
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