Semantics is important

Does anyone disagree with me that semantics is important?

 

Depends. What is your definition of "is" in this context?

 

If I were a Libertarian, like a lot of people claim to be here, I would say no.

I would say that semantics are not worth examining, because being politically correct and choosing appropriate words to articulate an idea or a thought is a psy-ops tactic used to narrow and compartmentalize broad channels of expression that are supposed to be free and unrestricted.

 

Main Entry:
se·man·tics
Pronunciation:
\si-ˈman-tiks\
Function:
noun plural but singular or plural in construction
Date:
1893
1: the study of meanings: a: the historical and psychological study and the classification of changes in the signification of words or forms viewed as factors in linguistic development b (1): semiotic (2): a branch of semiotic dealing with the relations between signs and what they refer to and including theories of denotation, extension, naming, and truth
2: general semantics
3 a: the meaning or relationship of meanings of a sign or set of signs ; especially : connotative meaning b: the language used (as in advertising or political propaganda) to achieve a desired effect on an audience especially through the use of words with novel or dual meanings

 

so, semantics is not important because words are powerful?

Seems contradictory.

 

By the way, it should be "Semantics are important".

 

No, actually, it's semantics IS important.

Apparently, so is grammar.

 

No. According to some Libertarians, breaking down the many uses of words into a uniform and plain speak style of expression is hell and has no place. They think it's preferable to create new ways of formulating a sentence instead of installing a politically correct way of expressing oneself or using any kind of universal understanding of a particular topic.

Libertarians would argue that finding a common semiotic means of expression is far to limiting, it curtails their freedoms of speech and expression and thus semantic analysis is unecessary to determine the true and real words being used when conveying a thought or message.

 

Semantics are important.

Cats is important. Cats are important.

Learn to conjugate the plural form correctly please.

 

umm... that is a position on the subject of semantics, is it not?

so you haven't said semantics is unimportant, you've merely defended a pluralistic position on the subject.

"the study of meanings". THE STUDY is the the subject, and is singular. Semantics as a field of study is a singular noun, despite ending in a "s" and having a plural construction. There is no such thing as "a semantic". It's plural if I use it in a plural sense, but as the subject of my sentence it is singular. Why don't you look at the definition for clarification?

Politics IS important, not politics ARE important. If you are going to do a silly "gotcha" at least be right when you do it.

 

Yes, semantics is extremely important.

But not all the time. I really can't stand when people make EVERYTHING out to be about semantics, as playfully demonstrated in the second post of this thread.

That being said, when complex and complicated issues are being discussed, a person's preconceived knowledge or prejudice built around a certain word or phrase can make all the difference in how they interpret you, and what kind of reaction that will bring.

 

Well, yes. I was being snarky and advocating what a Libertarian would make claim - but I do not claim to be Libertarian whatsoever.

I personally enjoy finding the meaning behind words, the etymology and use of words, of phrases used as maxims, idioms and epithets in the universe of language. I study language 5 days a week you see and am fluent in 2 languages.

It's important to compare, asses and interpret language and use it appropriately to accurately pin-point and instill the meaning and message behind the words being used.

I mean, the more languages you learn, the more your mind becomes opened to the connotations and associations contained within words. I think that it's limiting to ignore the ground work and roots of language. I mean, in Hebrew they have root words that stem out from basic roots and to say the word "shoe" in Hebrew paints a different picture than if you say the word "shoe" in English. So yeah, it's important to select the appropriate language (or in case you are limited to just one language the appropriate word) in order to convey an exact idea or concept.

 

No, you would never say Politics is important. Just like you would never say Sciences is important, mathematics is important, gymnastics is important, physical educations is important, geographies is important, histories is important, languages is important, children is important, kids is important or french fries is important.

You are incorrect and you don't know how to conjugate English. It's grammatically incorrect to says "Semantics is important", I'm sorry but those are the rules.

 

How ironic that this thread turned into a useless sparring of semantics.

 

LOL! Aristartle is right though, i don't understand why maryjohn will not cede the point.

 

Se vuoi, possiamo scrivere in italiano,
Si quieres, hablamos in castellano, sino...
Vielleicht auf Deutsch willst du mit mir schrieben und discutieren? Ich liebe Deutsch, oder..
Tu veux me parler en français (pardonne mon orthographe, car mon français, je l'ai apris de ma mère, et jamais a l'école...)
amo latinam...

so explain to me why you tried to start a pissing match instead of posting what you think?

from wikipedia:

you are plain old wrong about the grammar. or maybe you are right, but if so, you should let the whole academic community know.

 

She did both, and bested you at both. You're beaten, admit it.

 

I understood all of those languages and what you said.

I didn't start a pissing match. I started posting about what a Libertarian would say because I wanted to express myself from a different angle. And well, you're wrong about the grammar bit. I just thought it would be fun to argue.

Especially with newbies to the Politics Forum.

:">

 

I get why she is saying what she is saying though.

She's looking at it as if "Semantics" is a singular entity unto itself, and therefor only needs a singular verb.

But really it doesn't even matter. Whether we say "Semantics are important", or Semantics is important" we can be clearly understood either way.

This is one of those instances I was talking about where it clearly ISN'T important.

 

so answer me in all those languages...

This is a just the diversion I needed... from semantics we go to grammar.

I won't cede that because it isn't right. Semantics IS important, and grammar much less so, but I can't resist irony, and calling someone out on a silly point when you are wrong in the first place is ironic.

Correct: your politics are controversial.
Incorrect: Politics are a controversial topic.

See the difference?