1. Introduction
The reason why popular scientific books are very successful is probably that an overview of the topics of modern science and an understanding of the main ideas are of interest to most people. But scientific literature does not only use a style too complicated for the “ordinary”, not academically educated person. It also is too extensive and contains many, at times confusing, details that are of no interest to a “normal” person. So for a person just trying to get the main drift of a scientific topic, it is on the one hand hard to deal with the scientific vernacular and on the other hand almost impossible to filter the information of real importance from other information that is not as important.
Popular scientific books seem to be the solution for people not academically interested in a topic. Here the authors can concentrate on the basics and foundations of knowledge, going not too much into the unnecessary detail. They are not bound to the strict structures of scientific literature, but can explain simply with examples from real life.
But more important is the fact that most people in our society want to be entertained rather than taught and find the academic side of science simply boring. The colloquial style of writing in popular scientific literature, the colourful examples that draw relations to the readers’ own life and the sometimes humorous descriptions add to the pleasure of the audience and render this kind of literature not only informative but in the first place entertaining.
Though it may be true that most people read popular scientific books only for entertainment, it is also true that with this literature the ideas and discoveries of modern sciences become more transparent not only for a small academically educated group but for everybody who is interested in it. Of course they can only “scratch the surface” of the actual scientific knowledge. In order to have a greater understanding of the science in question popular scientific literature cannot replace scientific literature.
Popular scientific books are published with topics of many different sciences from all fields. Deborah Tannen is one of the most successful authors of popular scientific books in linguistics. She is professor of linguistics at Georgetown University in Washington D.C. and wrote numerous books, including the bestsellers That’s Not What I Meant (1986) and You Just Don’t Understand (1990) .(1)
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(1) cf. Tannen, Deborah (1986) That’s Not[...]
Table of Contents
- INTRODUCTION
- DEBORAH TANNEN'S THAT'S NOT WHAT I MEANT IN THE FOCUS OF CRITICISM
- DEBORAH TANNEN, THAT'S NOT WHAT I MEANT
- General information on That's Not What I Meant
- Content of That's Not What I Meant
- CRITICS OF DEBORAH TANNEN'S POPULAR BOOKS
- Troemel-Ploetz, Selling the Apolitical
- Freed, We understand perfectly: A critique of Tannen's view of cross-sex communication
- CRITICS OF THAT'S NOT WHAT I MEANT
- CONCLUSION
- BIBLIOGRAPHY
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper aims to analyze Deborah Tannen's popular science book, "That's Not What I Meant," examining its content and reception within the field of sociolinguistics. It will explore the criticisms leveled against Tannen's work and assess their applicability to "That's Not What I Meant" specifically.
- Miscommunication stemming from differing conversational styles.
- The impact of personal background (geographic, ethnic, social, gender) on communication.
- The accessibility and popularization of sociolinguistic concepts.
- Critique of Tannen's approach and its reception in the academic community.
- The role of popular science in disseminating complex academic ideas.
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter explores the reasons behind the success of popular science books. It highlights the contrast between the complex style of academic literature and the more accessible, entertaining style of popular science, arguing that the latter makes scientific concepts more readily available to a wider audience. The chapter positions Deborah Tannen as a prominent author in popular linguistics and introduces the focus of the paper: an analysis of her book "That's Not What I Meant" and its reception.
2. Deborah Tannen's That's Not What I Meant in the focus of criticism: This chapter delves into Tannen's "That's Not What I Meant," providing background information on its publication and content. It describes the book's casual writing style, use of relatable examples, and its method of applying linguistic concepts to everyday conversational scenarios to explain miscommunication. The chapter emphasizes Tannen's approach to making complex linguistic topics accessible and engaging for a broad readership. It sets the stage for the discussion of criticism that followed Tannen's work.
Deborah Tannen's "That's Not What I Meant": A Critical Analysis - FAQ
What is the main focus of this paper?
This paper analyzes Deborah Tannen's popular science book, "That's Not What I Meant," examining its content, its reception within sociolinguistics, and the criticisms it received. It explores how complex linguistic concepts are made accessible to a wider audience and assesses the validity of the criticisms leveled against Tannen's work.
What topics are covered in the analysis of "That's Not What I Meant"?
The analysis covers several key themes: miscommunication arising from differing conversational styles; the influence of personal background (gender, ethnicity, social class, geography) on communication; the popularization of sociolinguistic concepts; critiques of Tannen's approach and its reception in academia; and the role of popular science in disseminating complex academic ideas.
What are the key criticisms of Deborah Tannen's work addressed in this paper?
The paper specifically examines criticisms from Troemel-Ploetz ("Selling the Apolitical") and Freed ("We understand perfectly: A critique of Tannen's view of cross-sex communication"). These critiques, and others, are assessed in relation to "That's Not What I Meant" to determine their relevance and validity.
What is the structure of the paper?
The paper is structured with an introduction, a section dedicated to the analysis of "That's Not What I Meant" and its criticisms, a conclusion, and a bibliography. The analysis includes a detailed overview of the book's content and writing style, highlighting its accessibility and use of relatable examples.
What is the overall approach of the paper?
The paper takes a structured and professional approach, analyzing themes related to communication styles, sociolinguistics, and the popularization of scientific concepts. It aims to provide a comprehensive overview of both the content and reception of Tannen's book within the academic community.
How does the paper discuss the accessibility of complex linguistic concepts?
The paper contrasts the complex language of academic literature with the more accessible style of popular science writing employed by Tannen. It explores how Tannen's use of relatable examples and a casual writing style makes complex linguistic concepts more readily understandable to a wider audience.
What is included in the Table of Contents?
The table of contents includes an introduction, a section focusing on Deborah Tannen's "That's Not What I Meant" and its criticisms (including specific critiques by Troemel-Ploetz and Freed), a conclusion, and a bibliography.
What are the chapter summaries provided?
Chapter summaries detail the introduction's focus on popular science books and the contrast between academic and popular writing styles. The summary of the main chapter details the analysis of Tannen's book, including its style and content, and sets the stage for the discussion of the criticisms.
- Quote paper
- Andrea Dorweiler (Author), 2004, Deborah Tannen's popular scientific book "That's Not What I Meant" in the focus of criticism, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/40416
