Author Topic: Language without meaning (Read 1599 times)

Jonathon · « **on:** April 18, 2007, 11:22:18 AM »

I came across this quote in a planner the other day: "Living the Seven Habits will bring the maximum long-term benefits possible." I believe this is straight from the book. At first glance, there didn't seem to be anything wrong with it. But I kind of did a double-take, and then it started to seem strange.

It looks like it's simply tautological: they will bring the most benefits that they can bring. It doesn't say anything about what those benefits are, or how good they are. And if they always bring those benefits, then they are also the minimum benefits possible.

In other words, the sentence seems to convey about as much info as "Living the Seven Habits will be good for you in some vague, undefined way."

Porter · « **Reply #1 on:** April 18, 2007, 11:25:40 AM »

I read that sentence as saying that living the 7 habits will bring you all the benefits it is possible for you to have. In other words, no other system can give you more long-term benefits.

Jonathon · « **Reply #2 on:** April 18, 2007, 11:55:29 AM »

Interesting. I can see how you'd get that reading. I think the problem is that it's elliptical, but it doesn't give you enough information to expand the phrase and extract the intended meaning. That is, the full form would go something like "Living the Seven Habits will bring the maximum long-term benefits that it is possible for x to bring." My feeling is that it's most natural to fill in x with the subject from the main clause—"Living the Seven Habits"—but that can't be the intended meaning because it renders it meaningless.

rivka · « **Reply #3 on:** April 18, 2007, 11:59:51 AM »

My feeling is that they are attempting to imply Porter's reading without actually saying anything that can be interpreted as a guarantee.

But I believe I've already made it clear that I am exceedingly skeptical about self-help books.

Jonathon · « **Reply #4 on:** April 18, 2007, 12:11:50 PM »

Aha. I think you've got the right of it, Rivka.

Tante Shvester · « **Reply #5 on:** April 18, 2007, 12:59:32 PM »

I'ma gonna sue, on account of I lived all those habits and my brother-in-law lived only four of them, oh, who the heck is he kidding, he only faked living the third one, it was like he lived three of them , faked one, and blew off the rest. Anyways, my point is, he's got full dental and medical benefits and long-term care insurance, not to mention that dandy death-and-dismemberment policy, and me, this lousy HMO that won't even let me see an orthodontist for my kid's crooked teeth.

Maximum benefits? I don't think so!

Jonathon · « **Reply #6 on:** April 18, 2007, 01:04:14 PM »

But think of all those other benefits, like flexible hours and a great work environment! You can't put a price on those!

Porter · « **Reply #7 on:** April 18, 2007, 01:08:14 PM »

*puts a price tag of 100 billion dollars on those*

Jonathon · « **Reply #8 on:** April 18, 2007, 01:14:08 PM »

I just said that you can't.

Porter · « **Reply #9 on:** April 18, 2007, 01:24:12 PM »

Obviously, you were wrong.

Jonathon · « **Reply #10 on:** April 18, 2007, 01:25:45 PM »

Oh, sorry. Obviously I should have said that you mayn't.

Porter · « **Reply #11 on:** April 18, 2007, 01:37:58 PM »

Obviously.