Meaning is Found Where?

The meaning of a word, is only sometimes found in the actual word or within a persons own thoughts. The reason why this only works sometimes, is due to the subjectivity of both methods. A persons' thinking or understanding of a word may misinterpret the meaning; and in the American language it often happends that one word can have various meanings or definitions. A meaning of a word becomes more clear and relavant within the context of a network or source.

Nicole put it simply when she wrote "networks are what shapes the meaning behind a word instead of a word shaping a meaning and then delievering it into a network." Perhaps to understand this, we need to define what a network is. I liked Sarah's explaination that a network is an organization consisting of many different people with different experiences and background. This reflects the notion that one cannot assume, when speaking words, that the same meaning of a specific word is being referanced by everyone. When working or living in a specific network, people learn and use the language and meanings of the institution. This may also happen to an individual through ones personal biography and culture. Each different culture intails subcodes that are understood by the members of that culture. These subcodes define the meaning that relay the message.

Derrida teaches us that "binary pairs" help us draw lines around words and meanings that put them into categories. As helpful as his may sound this is also a problem. Languages are not so cut and dry as we may wish them to be. Meaning can be negotiated, but should it be? When two people communicate, they both want to be understood clearly, if any interferance can be avoided this is beneficial to both parties. Professors like Derrida, Shannon and Weaver have tried to eliminate the possiblities of miscommunication, so that people from different backgrounds or sources can effectivly communicate.
Check out Derrida the movie for a full understanding of this mans life and impact.