Response Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Response - Case Study Example The same applies to meaning of literal in which an oversimplified meaning as well as one that considers conditions exist. For the oversimplified meaning, literal implies direct, factual, or reasoned meaning while non-literal implies that which is metaphorical, exaggerated, or inferred. Understanding literal from the non-oversimplified approach however identifies four different meanings whose application cause confusion. The meanings can be conventional, based on subject matter, based on metaphor implications, or based on truthfulness. An assumption however exist that the four meanings converge but this is the source of the problem. Only one of the meanings, for example, third meaning, associates with metaphor and use of literal in this relation should either be specified or avoided. The problem in using the word literal is common, even among professionals, but distinguishing the conditional definitions can help (Lakoff 291- 296). The article is significant to understanding of the creation story, based on Genesis 1. According to the article, the story can be understood from the oversimplified perspective of absolute truth or from conditional perspectives that could depend on a person’s condition such as religious affiliation or scientific knowledge. Alignment of the oversimplified understanding of meaning with one of the available conditional meanings also relates to the Genesis story that is consistent with some religions such as Christianity. This means that according to Lakoff’s perspective, unless a person subscribes to such faiths that hold Genesis’ creation belief, the belief should be either qualified or disregarded. The article also offers a base for resolving conflicts between people who hold different meanings on a subject matter because it crates awareness of sources of differences. This facilitates development of