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Usenet Posted 23 years ago
Usage
Q: a term for "a matter of choice of words"
Dear all,
I am about to use the word "semantic" in a presentation, but I am not quite sure whether this is the appropriate word.
What I'm trying to say is that two authors use various terms in different ways, but that the difference is mostly a question of relabeling. In their respective systems, the authors can express the same sets of meanings, but their choice of words differ.
Does the following sentence capture this meaning?
"Thus, it is mostly a matter of semantics whether 'feedback' denotes specific closed interaction chains, or refers to an aggregate property of several such loops."
Is there perhaps a less technical term which is more widely understood, and shorter than "a matter of which words you choose to refer to which part of the problem"?
Thanks in advance,
Jon Olav Vik
I am about to use the word "semantic" in a presentation, but I am not quite sure whether this is the appropriate word.
What I'm trying to say is that two authors use various terms in different ways, but that the difference is mostly a question of relabeling. In their respective systems, the authors can express the same sets of meanings, but their choice of words differ.
Does the following sentence capture this meaning?
"Thus, it is mostly a matter of semantics whether 'feedback' denotes specific closed interaction chains, or refers to an aggregate property of several such loops."
Is there perhaps a less technical term which is more widely understood, and shorter than "a matter of which words you choose to refer to which part of the problem"?
Thanks in advance,
Jon Olav Vik
Top answer
[nq:1]What I'm trying to say is that two authors use various terms in different ways, but that the difference is ... "[/nq] Invoking the technical "semantics" seems to add nothing to your explanation. " In this case, see how your manuscript reads wholly without this sentence.
- [nq:1]What I'm trying to say is that two authors use various terms in different ways, but that the difference is ...
- "[/nq] Invoking the technical "semantics" seems to add nothing to your explanation.
- " In this case, see how your manuscript reads wholly without this sentence.
- If something is missing, you can put it back, as simply as possible.
- com
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4 Answers
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[nq:1]What I'm trying to say is that two authors use various terms in different ways, but that the difference is ... matter of semantics whether 'feedback' denotes specific closed interaction chains, or refers to an aggregate property of several such loops."[/nq]
Invoking the technical "semantics" seems to add nothing to your explanation. Do you mean:
"Some writers use 'feedback' to mean s
Invoking the technical "semantics" seems to add nothing to your explanation. Do you mean:
"Some writers use 'feedback' to mean s
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"Jon Olav Vik" :
[nq:1]"Thus, it is mostly a matter of semantics whether 'feedback' denotes specific closed interaction chains, or refers to an aggregate ... widely understood, and shorter than "a matter of which words you choose to refer to which part of the problem"?[/nq]
I don't think there is anything gained by introducing the overused term "semantics" into a comment about something th
[nq:1]"Thus, it is mostly a matter of semantics whether 'feedback' denotes specific closed interaction chains, or refers to an aggregate ... widely understood, and shorter than "a matter of which words you choose to refer to which part of the problem"?[/nq]
I don't think there is anything gained by introducing the overused term "semantics" into a comment about something th
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[nq:1]"Jon Olav Vik" :[/nq]
[nq:2]"Thus, it is mostly a matter of semantics whether 'feedback' ... you choose to refer to which part of the problem"?[/nq]
[nq:1]I don't think there is anything gained by introducing the overused term "semantics" into a comment about something that really has almost nothing to do with semantics. "A matter of word choice" is better, unless you plan to go into
[nq:2]"Thus, it is mostly a matter of semantics whether 'feedback' ... you choose to refer to which part of the problem"?[/nq]
[nq:1]I don't think there is anything gained by introducing the overused term "semantics" into a comment about something that really has almost nothing to do with semantics. "A matter of word choice" is better, unless you plan to go into
00
>
[nq:1]I don't think there is anything gained by introducing the overused term "semantics" into a comment about something that really has almost nothing to do with semantics. "A matter of word choice" is better, unless you plan to go into a lengthy discussion about semantics.[/nq]
Off topic but related: I have heard the expression, "We are just arguing about semantics" used in meetings
[nq:1]I don't think there is anything gained by introducing the overused term "semantics" into a comment about something that really has almost nothing to do with semantics. "A matter of word choice" is better, unless you plan to go into a lengthy discussion about semantics.[/nq]
Off topic but related: I have heard the expression, "We are just arguing about semantics" used in meetings
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