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See my definitions, or write your own in comments
Significance 40%  40%  [ 2 ]
Meaning 60%  60%  [ 3 ]
Total votes : 5

jrjones9933
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25 Jan 2017, 12:34 pm

Meaning: the logical sequence of ideas in a statement

Significance: the gut feeling expressed by a statement

Which has the greater importance? I'm asking in as general terms as possible, so if your answer needs to narrow the specifications go right ahead.


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Lillikoi
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25 Jan 2017, 12:59 pm

I suppose meaning is more important, because if you don't understand the meaning, then you can't understand the significance.

I don't really understand your question, though. :scratch: Like, in what context?
Do you mean which one is more important for someone to understand, or which one is just more important overall?


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jrjones9933
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25 Jan 2017, 1:17 pm

Lillikoi wrote:
Do you mean which one is more important for someone to understand, or which one is just more important overall?

The more general one


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jrjones9933
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26 Jan 2017, 2:25 am

I don't think that the meaning and significance need to match, actually. I find this way of partitioning the different aspects of communication useful. Any communication has more or less of each and they can be more or less congruent with each other.

People can say one thing and mean another for comedy, veiled threats, or whatever.

People have communication styles where they prefer one or the other. Some people hear one better than the other, and while the stereotype of the autistic person would make you think that we are all better with meaning than significance, I see a lot of interaction on here that suggests otherwise.

I have a clear preference, but I don't diminish the importance of the other. I kind of think that I'm kidding myself by saying that meaning is more important. Significance may be what makes the world go around, whether I can trust it or not.


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"I find that the best way [to increase self-confidence] is to lie to yourself about who you are, what you've done, and where you're going." - Richard Ayoade