Comments on: 2. Is This a Context or Setting… http://taiwaneers.com A couple of kids from Michigan living the high life in Taiwan Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:25:42 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Steve http://taiwaneers.com/the-english-challenge/2-is-this-a-context-or-setting/comment-page-1/#comment-6996 Steve Fri, 28 Oct 2011 16:50:09 +0000 http://taiwaneers.com/the-english-challenge/2-is-this-a-context-or-setting/#comment-6996 Just like Chinese, words in English have a history (well, maybe a little less of a history ;-). Context comes from the idea that words are surrounded by text, and the text around the words influences the meaning of the word itself. So it often has to do with interpreting meaning, though it could be used metaphorically in less specific ways. Setting comes from the idea of an arranged set of objects, like a table setting. Everything has been set out in a certain arrangement with respect to each other. This is a visual picture, and as a result setting is often used to refer either to the place where something is "set" or "staged" and metaphorically has come to be used often for places where something happens, even if no one (except maybe God?) ever created that context (note, metaphorical usage of context because we're talking about meaning, in this case the meaning of "setting.") I find it curious to discuss grammar in this setting--e.g., sitting in front of my fireplace in Colorado typing on your blog as a "game," but it's pretty hard to imagine it will get me a free tank of gas or a bing sha in my current setting, It will be interesting, though, to see how people respond to my answer in this context--e.g., when they read it stacked up in the comments section under your question/blog header. Good work, Michael and Emily Just like Chinese, words in English have a history (well, maybe a little less of a history ;-) . Context comes from the idea that words are surrounded by text, and the text around the words influences the meaning of the word itself. So it often has to do with interpreting meaning, though it could be used metaphorically in less specific ways.
Setting comes from the idea of an arranged set of objects, like a table setting. Everything has been set out in a certain arrangement with respect to each other. This is a visual picture, and as a result setting is often used to refer either to the place where something is “set” or “staged” and metaphorically has come to be used often for places where something happens, even if no one (except maybe God?) ever created that context (note, metaphorical usage of context because we’re talking about meaning, in this case the meaning of “setting.”)
I find it curious to discuss grammar in this setting–e.g., sitting in front of my fireplace in Colorado typing on your blog as a “game,” but it’s pretty hard to imagine it will get me a free tank of gas or a bing sha in my current setting, It will be interesting, though, to see how people respond to my answer in this context–e.g., when they read it stacked up in the comments section under your question/blog header.
Good work, Michael and Emily

]]> By: Michael http://taiwaneers.com/the-english-challenge/2-is-this-a-context-or-setting/comment-page-1/#comment-609 Michael Tue, 12 May 2009 10:12:07 +0000 http://taiwaneers.com/the-english-challenge/2-is-this-a-context-or-setting/#comment-609 So just to clarify even further, you are saying "context" has to do with the intangible and "setting" has to do with the tangible? So just to clarify even further, you are saying “context” has to do with the intangible and “setting” has to do with the tangible?

]]> By: Christine http://taiwaneers.com/the-english-challenge/2-is-this-a-context-or-setting/comment-page-1/#comment-608 Christine Mon, 11 May 2009 21:07:08 +0000 http://taiwaneers.com/the-english-challenge/2-is-this-a-context-or-setting/#comment-608 They are similar, but not interchangable. For example, when one considers a particular moment in time (such as a murder) then <b><i>context</b></i> refers to the actions and tensions which led to this moment (such as discovering your partner has been cheating on you coupled with the fact that you have just been made redundant, and how this makes you feel), whereas <b><i>setting</b></i> refers to the actual place where the murder was committed and its general geography. Basically, <b><i>context</b></i> is prior actions and feelings and their impact, and <b><i>setting</b></i> is the area where the resulting action or decision was taken. They are similar, but not interchangable. For example, when one considers a particular moment in time (such as a murder) then context refers to the actions and tensions which led to this moment (such as discovering your partner has been cheating on you coupled with the fact that you have just been made redundant, and how this makes you feel), whereas setting refers to the actual place where the murder was committed and its general geography.

Basically, context is prior actions and feelings and their impact, and setting is the area where the resulting action or decision was taken.

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