LessonsDefining Literal Usage: Linguistic Assignment and Speech ConventionQuiz

Classifying a new occurrence involves a sequence of distinct judgments:
1. Identify the word and its actual occurrence.
2. Identify the governing lexical, religious, or customary convention.
3. Establish the sense assigned in that convention.
4. Identify the intended sense and any contextual indicator.
5. Determine whether the use follows the assignment, conveys another meaning by a recognized relation, or is simply erroneous.

For ṣalāh in a legal discussion, first consult the religious convention. For “lion” applied to an archer, distinguish its ordinary animal sense from the indicator pointing toward a human being.

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A practical method for classifying use

Defining Literal Usage: Linguistic Assignment and Speech Convention

Classifying a new occurrence involves a sequence of distinct judgments:
1. Identify the word and its actual occurrence.
2. Identify the governing lexical, religious, or customary convention.
3. Establish the sense assigned in that convention.
4. Identify the intended sense and any contextual indicator.
5. Determine whether the use follows the assignment, conveys another meaning by a recognized relation, or is simply erroneous.

For ṣalāh in a legal discussion, first consult the religious convention. For “lion” applied to an archer, distinguish its ordinary animal sense from the indicator pointing toward a human being.