The Socio Cultural Background as Semantic Implication: How to Identify it Within a Literary Text

Abstract

All linguists and literary critics are aware of the complexity of a literary text. The complete interpretation and understanding of such a text definitely requires some extra linguistic knowledge. According to the Reception Theory, a crucial element that defines the reception of the meaning of a text is the socio cultural background of the text itself. This article considers the socio cultural background as a kind of semantic implication. It aims at presenting a theoretical approach of this theory as well as introducing some ideas on how to identify it. It will also explain and analyze some very important notions relevant to the theory, such as the notion of the text, meaning, semantics etc. The examples provided to support the theory are taken from the work in prose of Martin Camaj. Camaj is well known for the vivid descriptions and representations of the northern Albanian lifestyle and costumes. In order to completely embrace the meaning of his text, the reader must firstly identify and analyze the socio cultural background.

DOI: 10.5901/jesr.2013.v3n7p398