From: Christine Verna Johnson <cjohnson@oucsace.cs.ohiou.edu>
Subject: Re: Update
Date: Tue, 26 Jul 1994 10:23:05 -0400 (EDT)

[This is copyright Christine Verna Johnson. She is a graduate student]
[of linguistics and teaches English to non-native speakers. --Ceci   ]

Quoting Cynthia Long <clong@u.washington.edu>:
> Question: What is your definition of patriarchy?
[...]
> For me the dictionary definition is no longer appropriate.  I see
> patriarchy as a concept, institutionalized power over women and
> children, whether a man or woman is doing the power over trip.

okay, what we're talking here is denotation and connotation.
denotation is the "definition", the dictionary, literal definition.
connotation is what the word really means, in the context (of the
sentence, essay, today's society, etc.)  so the denotation of
patriarchy is rule by males.  the connotation is patriarchy as it
exists today, where society defers to males, males have the
"legitimate" power, and women and children are suppressed.  the
connotation is the institution, and rather a woman is reinforcing it
or a man, it's still patriarchy.  IMNSHO.

connotation is variable, flexible, and considerably more useful,
especially when defining words to non-native speakers (gee i wouldn't
know anything about that!)  as an extreme example, the denotation of
"nigger" is a person with the racial characteristics of black people.
defining it without the connotation can get you in serious trouble!
and will make a person who is ignorant of the connotation extremely
rude.  i've seen this happen plenty of times!

in actuality, the connotation (your definition) is more important than
the denotation (theirs).

ceej

Linguist of Borg:  Your vowels will be assimilated.