How does language enhance meaning?

Question

Hi guys, this is my first question, so I hope it gets answered.

I'm writing my english report for the book Mass Effect: Revelations, and I was just wondering if anyone could help me answer the question "How does language enhance meaning?"

My quote is "Sacrificing one life for the sake of millions. Qian’s research is a threat to every species in Citadel space. I saw a chance to stop him at the cost of a few dozen lives. The math is simple, human… but few people are able to do it right” (285).

I'm just looking for some suggestions, so I appreciate any help.

Thanks

Answer 1

Without language, there would be no meaning.  Language is made up of words, without words, how would you be able to tell someone the meaning of anything?

Answer 2

Even with words that have similar meanings, there is still a difference in the way they make us feel...in what they're associated with in our minds.  For example, your quote begin with the word "sacrificing".  What other words could be used for it?  Maybe "giving up", or "losing", or even "ending".  The basic idea would be the same, since they all mean that someone would no longer be alive.

The enhanced meaning of "sacrificing" is that it gives the subtle idea that the loss of life was still greatly felt and appreciated.  A sacrifice means giving up something very dear and precious.  Without coming out and saying so, it still gives us the impression that the decision to give up one life for the sake of others was a tough and costly decision, not done lightly.  The other word choices I listed above are more general and light-hearted.  "Losing" could mean your car keys, not a valuable life.  Shades of meaning are important.

That's just one example.  You could probably consider why the word "threat" was chosen as well.  How would the meaning of the sentence change if a different synonym had been chosen?

Answer 3

i'm not sure how your quote fits in with the language thing...

language enhances meaning by presenting someone with your ideas in the way you see them. Two people can look at a cloud and they will see completely different things. However, if one begins to explain the shape of a paw, floppy ears and a tail, the other begins to see a dog. Language revealed the dog to the second person, in a way that no other senses could.