Theme vs. topic

Question

Hi everybody,How could I grasp the difference between the words 'topic' and 'theme'? What is the difference between them? If I check the definitions of monolingual dictionaries then I can find very similar usages. For example I've always used 'topic' to refer to the subject of a talk (during talks with other enthusiastic ESL students). But monolingual dictionaries shows a somewhat similar usage at 'theme'.Thanks for your answer in advance.

GPY · Accepted Answer

A theme can have a wider scope than a topic. You can move from topic to topic but still stay within the same theme.

Hole One a New See · Answer

Thanks for the answer, GPY

I guess, you explained the usage very well. Just one more question in connection with it:

Can you draw a sharp line somehow (based on logic) between 'topic' and 'theme' (of course I consider only this meaning/usage) or should I rely on common sense? I guess the latter is the better. For example (just a guess) 'health care' is possibly better to be called 'theme' but also we could call it a bigger/wider topic.

Thanks for your answer(s) in advance.

GPY · Answer

No, there is no sharp line. Also, a particular subject can be either a topic or a theme depending on context. For example, health care could be a "theme" of a government election campaign, but a "topic" on a website teaching useful English phrases. There are overlapping cases where either word would do.

Hole One a New See · Answer

Thank you very much, GPY

It was a very good explanation. It is clear now (at least it seems so).

GPY · Answer

Hole One a New SeeThank you very much, GPY It was a very good explanation. It is clear now (at least it seems so).

You're welcome; by the way, may I ask what your forum name "Hole One a New See" means? It has been puzzling me.

Hole One a New See · Answer

Sure

It is not negative at all.

In English you could pronounce it (more or less) as / h??l w?n ? nju? si? /

There is the following Hungarian question:

Hol van a nyuszi?

You could pronounce it in Hungarian more or less as /ho?l v?n ? nju s? /

The sounds at the place of red letters are used in Hungarian but not in English (so I can't write them with these symbols).

Hol van a nyuszi? means 'Where is the bunny?'in English. That's all

GPY · Answer

Hole One a New SeeHol van a nyuszi? means 'Where is the bunny?'in English.

Aha. If I ever visit Hungary that may come in handy ...

Theme vs. topic

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