How Many Meanings Can Mean Have?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion explores the various meanings and interpretations of the word "mean" and related terms, including linguistic confusion and playful language use. Participants engage in a light-hearted examination of homophones, orthographic errors, and the nuances of English vocabulary.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express confusion over the multiple meanings of "mean," including its use in different contexts such as mathematics and intention.
  • There are playful exchanges regarding the interpretation of "mean" and its homophones, with participants sharing humorous takes on language.
  • One participant suggests that "whit" and "wit" are often confused, leading to misunderstandings about intelligence and insight.
  • Another participant proposes that "iota" refers to a small matter, linking it to previous comments about language.
  • Several participants engage in wordplay, creating sentences with repeated words and discussing the quirks of English grammar.
  • There is a mention of using translation tools for language learning, with some participants joking about switching to Dutch.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

The discussion features multiple competing views on the meanings of words and their usage, with no consensus reached on the interpretations or the playful language challenges posed.

Contextual Notes

Participants demonstrate varying levels of familiarity with English vocabulary, leading to orthographic confusion and playful misunderstandings. The discussion reflects a mix of serious and humorous engagement with language.

Who May Find This Useful

Readers interested in linguistics, language play, and the nuances of English vocabulary may find this discussion engaging.

Monique
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Lingo never fails to confuse me..

By all means, the mean of men don't mean to be mean by living outside of their means.

means-method
mean-average
mean-intend
mean-evil
means-wealth
 
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Yes, I thought of that myself

I thought I was writing mean the wrong way, since it is written the same way as all the other means, but apparently it was right..
 
mean the others think that's prety good.
 
Originally posted by selfAdjoint
mean the others think that's prety good.
That's just pure evil

meam quite whitty :wink:
 
Originally posted by Monique
That's just pure evil

meam quite whitty :wink:
uam quite an iota?
 
Originally posted by Tsunami
uam quite an iota?
Why mention this? It's such a small matter.
 
Originally posted by Tsunami
uam quite an iota?
By no means!

You tell me what this mean means and I will tell you what you are:
"The mean was drowned by your unruly base."

*PHUH!*
 
Last edited:
Originally posted by Monique
By no means!

You tell me what this mean means and I will tell you what you are:
"The mean was drowned by your unruly base."

*PHUH!*
What do you mean? What ir?
 
Originally posted by Tsunami
What do you mean? What ir?
Ok, I'll give the answer away, the meaning is:

\Mean\: (Mus.) A part, whether alto or tenor, intermediate between the soprano and base; a middle part. [Obs.]
 
  • #10
Originally posted by Monique
Ok, I'll give the answer away, the meaning is:

\Mean\: (Mus.) A part, whether alto or tenor, intermediate between the soprano and base; a middle part. [Obs.]
Well, that's as clear as MUD!
So, what are you saying? IR a 'middle part'? (you SAID you'd tell me what IR...) or maybe IR an 'unruly base'?
(I'M SO CONFUSED!)
 
  • #11
well, ir sajin dat ur tuh zeem ass ir
 
  • #12
Originally posted by Monique
well, ir sajin dat ur tuh zeem ass ir
What a SWEET thing to say! (Hey! Is that Dutch? Are you teaching me Dutch? COOL! I LOVE THE NETHERLANDS! SO beautiful and SUCH good restaurants in Amsterdam - YUM! And I got such a huge charge of riding the train and looking out the window and seeing a SHIP going right through the middle of a giant green agricultural field! )
 
  • #13
ROTFLOL, well, it happens

For the record, this "well, ir sajin dat ur tuh zeem ass ir"
means: well, I am saying that you are the same as I am.
 
  • #14
Originally posted by Tsunami
uam quite an iota?
Oh, I thought that meant idiot
 
  • #15
Originally posted by zoobyshoe
Why mention this? It's such a small matter.
All of a sudden that comment makes sense too
 
  • #16
Originally posted by Monique
All of a sudden that comment makes sense too
Whit, iota = small matter. You referred to yourself as "whity" i.e. "of or having to do with a thing of no consequence." That's where Tsunami got "iota".
 
  • #17
I thought that if someone had whit, they were smart hard working and had good insight

Again something learned today.. [b(]
 
  • #18
I think you mean "wit" rather than "whit".
 
  • #19
Originally posted by Monique
I thought that if someone had whit, they were smart hard working and had good insight
Whit is not Wit. Orthographic confusion leads to homophonic disorientation. To find east, linguistically speaking, look in the dictionary.
 
  • #20
Originally posted by Lonewolf
I think you mean "wit" rather than "whit".
*sigh* I probably did, didn't I?

Would you mind if from now on I just start posting everything in Dutch? There is a translation service called Babelfish, just download the toolbar.. it will allow you to translate everything I post. Thanks.

[zz)]
 
  • #21
*sigh* I probably did, didn't I?

I wouldn't feel too bad about it. Your English is better than most of our Dutch
 
  • #22
Originally posted by zoobyshoe
Whit is not Wit. Orthographic confusion leads to homophonic disorientation. To find east, linguistically speaking, look in the dictionary.
Wit is Dutch for white..

To find east.. is like finding which direction is south on the Northpole..

Ok, looked in the dictionary.. finding east is not in there..
 
  • #23
Originally posted by Monique
ROTFLOL, well, it happens
Hey! Don't call me a ROTFLOL! I'M NOT A ROTFLOL!

For the record, this "well, ir sajin dat ur tuh zeem ass ir" means: well, I am saying that you are the same as I am.
I know! (you see, I already KNOW a little 'Dutsch' ) That's why I thanked you for the compliment!
 
  • #24
Originally posted by Tsunami
I know! (you see, I already KNOW a little 'Dutsch' )
I hope you are not confused with Deutsch
 
  • #25
To be oriented means, literally, to be facing east. Once you are facing any direction with certainty you know where all the other directions are.

To be oriented is a metaphor for knowing one's way around.

The mistakes you made came from not knowing your way around Whit, wit, and iota.

Orthography is a fancy word for spelling. The kind of wit you meant is not spelled whit. You could have discovered this from a dictionary. You could likewise have discovered what an iota is.

Also: I wouldn't advise looking in Dutch dictionaries for English words. There is probably precious little overlap.
 
  • #26
Originally posted by zoobyshoe
To be oriented means, literally, to be facing east. Once you are facing any direction with certainty you know where all the other directions are.
Now THAT is cool

Also: I wouldn't advise looking in Dutch dictionaries for English words. There is probably precious little overlap.
Well, as I said: wit is Dutch for white.. doesn't help, really

*edit* there is also a thing called properly reading I see :P yes, there is poor overlap of the words.. that doesn't mean I can turn that switch off though :wink:
 
Last edited:
  • #27
Originally posted by Monique
I hope you are not confused with Deutsch
OH! ABSOLUTELY not! (just GENERALLY confused - wouldn't YOU be living with IVAN?) I accidentally inserted an 's' in Dutch. Ivan speaks Deutsch tho!
 
  • #28
Originally posted by Monique
*sigh* I probably did, didn't I?

Would you mind if from now on I just start posting everything in Dutch? There is a translation service called Babelfish, just download the toolbar.. it will allow you to translate everything I post. Thanks.

[zz)]
NO! YOUR ENGLISH IS EXCELLENT! I'M JUST A STINKER! (check your pm's)
 
  • #29
Originally posted by Tsunami
NO! YOUR ENGLISH IS EXCELLENT! I'M JUST A STINKER! (check your pm's)
You are PLUMB correct!
 
  • #30
Originally posted by Monique
You are PLUMB correct!
PLUMB! GOOD ONE!

While repairing the PLUMBing, Ivan found a pipe blocked with a PLUM. He also noticed that the wall was out of PLUMB.

One of my favorites:
WHETHER or not the WEATHER is nice, we're going to the beach!

I know. These aren't quite the same as 'mean', but I enjoy the little weirdities of the English language. You may notice I'll occasionally make up my own word when I can't think of one that really conveys my meaning. Fun stuff.
 

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