Definitions

 What is definition

We found that language can be a very complicated instrument for human communication. If words are used carelessly or by mistake, the instrument could be burdensome to us. Vagueness and ambiguity may cause misunderstandings and misuse of words. Vagueness means the quality of the expression of language is not being clearly stated or understood. Ambiguity means that the quality of an expression whose meaning can be taken in two or more ways.

Misunderstandings and misuse of words could cause disagreements and in turn, disputes. There are three different kinds of disputes. 

The first is obviously genuine dispute, whereby the parties explicitly and unambiguously disagree, either in belief or attitude. 

The second is merely verbal dispute, where there is no genuine disagreement between the parties. Yet, there happen to be disagreements; perhaps due to misunderstanding or misuse of language.

The third is apparently verbal but really genuine. When the parties misunderstand one another's use of terms, there is likely to be confusion. That confusion can come to be recognised. But its sometimes happens that the dispute could go beyond their differing use of terms. Merely resolving the ambiguity will not settle the dispute because there remains some genuine disagreements; perhaps in belief or attitude, between the parties.

In our daily communication, especially in formal businesses, we use terminologies and definitions that are relevant or particular with our business trade. Definitions are critically important to establish clear communications when we conduct research activities. Everything is bogged down to the definitions that we use.

By exposing and eliminating vagueness and ambiguity, definitions can effectively resolve disputes that are merely verbal.

What is definition? There are few variations to provide meaning to the word 'definition'. 

• A real definition involves two sets of expressions, each with its own meaning and these two meanings are equivalent if the definition is true.

• A definition is a phrase signifying the essence of a thing. It contains two terms as its components: genus and differentia. A genus is what is predicated in the category of essence of things exhibiting differences in kind. The differentia is that part of the essence that distinguishes the species from the other species in the same genus.

• A definition is a way of restricting the meaning of a term that has several meanings to prevent ambiguity and equivocation.

• A definition is true if the defining term has the same designation as the term to be defined.

• Definition is a rule of substitution.

• "Definition" = statement that one term has the same designation as another term.

• A definition is the statement of the meaning of a word, etc.

• A definition is a brief description of a thing by its properties.

• A definition is an explanation of the meaning of a word or expression.
   

We desire a definition to help us by the following: -

• The definition will make communications possible when it is impossible to do without it. It also makes communications clear when without it, the communications would be fuzzy.

• The definition shall provide us with two terms: (a) the term to be defined, and (b) the term that does the defining.

• The definition shall distinguish between things and words. This is made by using the quotation marks.

• The definition could distinguish between the noun and verb forms of some words, which can be used in both forms.

• The definition will give the essence of that which is to be defined. The definiens must be equivalent to the definiendum; i.e., it must be applicable to everything of which the definiendum can be predicated.

Kinds of Definitions

There are varieties of definitions:-

• Direct and Indirect Definitions
• Direct definitions are explicit in nature. Its definiens can replace the definiendum without any further need for elaboration or explanation.

• Indirect definitions are such definitions that by replacing the definiendum with definiens, both of them being either isolated or part of a statement. The meaning of the statements remains open to further relevant questions. Two variations of indirect definitions are: -
• when a word or a combination of words conveys meaning far beyond what a usual-length definiens can clarify. This is because the definiendum may have several aspects, some of which are implied and cannot be demonstrated. For example; "democracy", "religion" and "honesty".
• when a word to be defined y is the descendent of x, then y may be a son, a grandson, or many more generations removed, and yet be the descendent of x. It is a recursive definition and the definition of the definiendum is uncertain.

• Informal and Formal Definitions
• Informal definitions are definitions with low degree of formality. Every word, either spoken or written, may be considered as informal definitions.

• Formal definitions need to be done with a tighter grip of words. It is mostly used in researches.

• Stipulated and Lexical Definitions
• Stipulated definition arise from the deliberate assignment of a meaning. It assigns special or restrictive meanings to words or combination of words. A stipulated definition should be regarded as a proposal or resolution to use the definiendum to mean what is meant by the definiens.

• Lexical definitions are terms with established usages. The lexical definitions are definitions as listed in dictionaries. The dictionaries list more than one meaning for many words and it is up to the individual to find the appropriate meaning by the context.

• Precising Definitions - serve to reduce vagueness. Stipulative and lexical definitions reduces ambiguity. A term is ambiguous in a given context when it has more that one distinct meaning and the intended meaning is not clear within the context. A term is vague when there exist borderline cases where it could not be determine whether the term could be applied in the context or not. Vagueness is another source of confusion in argument. A precising definition makes a known term more precise and reduce vagueness.

• Theoretical definition - is a definition that attempts to formulate a theoretically adequate or scientifically useful description of the objects to which the term applies. Proposing a theoretical definition is tantamount to proposing the acceptance of a theory.

• Persuasive definition - are formulated and used persuasively to resolve disputes by influencing the attitudes or stirring the emotions. It is common in political arguments.

• Operational definition - is designed to model or represent a concept or theoretical definition, which is also known as a construct. It assigns meaning to a construct or variable by specifying the activities or operations necessary to measure the construct or variable.

I hope these definitions of definitions will be useful to many, especially students and researchers.

Bibliography

Copi, I., Cohen, C., & Rodych, V. (2016). Introduction to logic. Routledge.

Srinagesh, K. (2006). The principles of experimental research. Butterworth-Heinemann.