Actually, I think it would be intonation, not exactly merely emphasis. In BOTH cases, the final word SHIT would naturally be emphasized, but the intonation or inflection would be different (indicating the difference between a noun and an adjective)
While the two statements (which are clauses, by the way) can be read in an identical way, I'm inclined to think that under natural conditions, there would be some natural variation in the intonation.
However, fundamentally, the difference is a grammatical (and of course, semantic) one.
Context matters, of course, because ALL language is contextual. But the difference here (in the way the statements are written) is one of grammar, essentially.
This becomes clearer if you add in the omitted (elipsed) aspects of the full statements. (In most languages, certain elements in a sentence etc, can be omitted if they are understood and may not need to be overtly expressed).
Here's what the actual statements are:
A) (THIS) (picture illustrating a facial expression) is what it is like when you know (the things that you are supposed to know, in your field, occupational or situational role)
B) (THIS) (picture illustrating a facial expression) is what it is like when you know (that you are abysmally bad at your job, or at being a professional, or even being a good human being)
Although the information (and context) provided by the pictures are essential to the communication, in and of themselves are not necessarily what defines the focus of the meme. It's the difference in two statements that sound the same when spoken (which we all recognize, as English speakers), but which we also recognize have very different meanings because of the words (and the grammar that underpins them).
Context matters would be the punchline when the words and sentences are exactly the same, but a different context gives them a different meaning. By the way, this particular effect is what is studied in the field of (Linguistic) Pragmatics, which examines the illocutionary force (aka the delivered meaning) of statements and utterances.
Example.
"It's Cold!" When the person is grasping themselves, shivering, in a room where it is snowing outside and the window is open, and someone else in the room just opened it.
The meaning communicated here might be "Close the window!"
"It's Cold!" When someone opened the door of a fridge they thought was broken down and not running, and they pulled out a beer thinking that it would be warm, and said this to their friend.
The meaning communicated here might be "Hey, the fridge IS working!"
This is an example of "Context Matters".
Another example might be saying to someone "You are a rock" in a country where to call someone "a rock" means they are an idiot, and "You are a rock" in another country or culture where calling someone "a rock" means they are solid, made of strong stuff, and therefor admirable.
Same words exactly, but the cultural context makes the two statements completely different.
Actually, I think it would be intonation, not exactly merely emphasis. In BOTH cases, the final word SHIT would naturally be emphasized, but the intonation or inflection would be different (indicating the difference between a noun and an adjective)
Grammar matters.
Thanks JC.
While the two statements (which are clauses, by the way) can be read in an identical way, I'm inclined to think that under natural conditions, there would be some natural variation in the intonation.
However, fundamentally, the difference is a grammatical (and of course, semantic) one.
Context matters, of course, because ALL language is contextual. But the difference here (in the way the statements are written) is one of grammar, essentially.
This becomes clearer if you add in the omitted (elipsed) aspects of the full statements. (In most languages, certain elements in a sentence etc, can be omitted if they are understood and may not need to be overtly expressed).
Here's what the actual statements are:
A) (THIS) (picture illustrating a facial expression) is what it is like when you know (the things that you are supposed to know, in your field, occupational or situational role)
B) (THIS) (picture illustrating a facial expression) is what it is like when you know (that you are abysmally bad at your job, or at being a professional, or even being a good human being)
Although the information (and context) provided by the pictures are essential to the communication, in and of themselves are not necessarily what defines the focus of the meme. It's the difference in two statements that sound the same when spoken (which we all recognize, as English speakers), but which we also recognize have very different meanings because of the words (and the grammar that underpins them).
Context matters would be the punchline when the words and sentences are exactly the same, but a different context gives them a different meaning. By the way, this particular effect is what is studied in the field of (Linguistic) Pragmatics, which examines the illocutionary force (aka the delivered meaning) of statements and utterances.
Example.
"It's Cold!" When the person is grasping themselves, shivering, in a room where it is snowing outside and the window is open, and someone else in the room just opened it.
The meaning communicated here might be "Close the window!"
"It's Cold!" When someone opened the door of a fridge they thought was broken down and not running, and they pulled out a beer thinking that it would be warm, and said this to their friend.
The meaning communicated here might be "Hey, the fridge IS working!"
This is an example of "Context Matters".
Another example might be saying to someone "You are a rock" in a country where to call someone "a rock" means they are an idiot, and "You are a rock" in another country or culture where calling someone "a rock" means they are solid, made of strong stuff, and therefor admirable.
Same words exactly, but the cultural context makes the two statements completely different.