Which term means 'to read between the lines; to work out meaning from clues in a text'?

Prepare for the AICE Language Lexis Exam. Study with flashcards and multiple-choice questions, each with hints and explanations. Enhance your vocabulary and language analysis skills for success!

Multiple Choice

Which term means 'to read between the lines; to work out meaning from clues in a text'?

Explanation:
Reading between the lines is drawing a conclusion from clues in the text that aren’t stated outright. The best term for this is infer: to infer means to deduce meaning from evidence and reasoning, not to state it directly. The difference between infer and imply helps here: imply is what a writer or speaker does when they hint at something, while infer is what a reader does when they pick up those hints and arrive at meaning. For example, if a character avoids eye contact and speaks curtly, you infer they are upset, even if they don’t say so. Evaluative lexis refers to words that express judgment, not the act of deriving meaning.

Reading between the lines is drawing a conclusion from clues in the text that aren’t stated outright. The best term for this is infer: to infer means to deduce meaning from evidence and reasoning, not to state it directly. The difference between infer and imply helps here: imply is what a writer or speaker does when they hint at something, while infer is what a reader does when they pick up those hints and arrive at meaning. For example, if a character avoids eye contact and speaks curtly, you infer they are upset, even if they don’t say so. Evaluative lexis refers to words that express judgment, not the act of deriving meaning.

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