Mean-in-g!

 Is there any meaning as such? Or does it emerge in a given context? In that sense, is not it mean-in-g? Oh, no, do not worry. No, I am not going to give you all a lecture on semiotics. For sure! I would like to prove through a fun example of how meaning emerges in context, how we mean in a given context.

Let us take the simple most sentence: "the door is open". The dictionary meaning is rather obvious. Do we, however, use the sentence as it would mean as per a dictionary? Never! Its meaning emerges absolutely in the context.

If a boss is very angry, as he/she often lives/loves to, the sentence would mean,  "just get the hell out of here", right? If a couple is fighting bitterly, as often is their wont, too, it would mean " do not scream at the top of your voice. You are entertaining our neighbours, that, too, without a tax," right?

If two thieves ate passing by, and one of them informs the other with a huge glee, "the door is open", it would mean " we are indeed lucky today". If your bestie knocks, you holler this very statement to mean "just walk in without much ado".

The meaning in brief is never a  given. It always emerges in a context, as per the relationship shared by the speaker and the listener, moreover. Meaning is always "mean-in-g"!

Pratima@Context makes it mean all.