Independent context refers to properties of a concept that are activated by a word regardless of the specific situation or surrounding information. These properties are inherently linked to the word's meaning and are consistently triggered whenever the word is encountered.
Here's a breakdown:
- Core Meaning: Independent context relates to the fundamental and unwavering understanding we have of a word. It's the "default" meaning.
- Consistent Activation: These properties aren't swayed by the surrounding words or the situation in which the word is used. They are always "on."
- Example: Consider the word "bird." Independent context might activate properties like "has wings," "can fly," and "lays eggs." These properties are generally true of birds, irrespective of whether we're talking about a penguin (which can't fly) or a specific bird in a particular setting.
In contrast, context-dependent properties are only activated when the specific surrounding context suggests it. These properties are not automatically associated with the word and require additional information to be activated. To further illustrate the difference:
| Feature | Independent Context | Context-Dependent Context |
|---|---|---|
| Activation | Always activated by the word | Activated only with relevant context |
| Relevance | Context-insensitive | Context-sensitive |
| Core Meaning | Part of the fundamental meaning | Dependent on the specific situation |
Understanding the distinction between independent and context-dependent contexts helps in understanding how we process language and extract meaning from words and sentences.
