Question 1 Skills: Explicit and Implicit Meanings

 

• In Question 1 of Paper 1 of your IGCSE exam, you are tested on your ability to understand both the explicit and implicit meanings in a text.
• Explicit meanings refer to the clear, direct information presented, while implicit meanings involve interpreting hints and clues within the text to uncover deeper or hidden messages.
• Additionally, you will need to extract and apply information from the text for specific purposes.

 

The sections below will explain the distinction between explicit and implicit meanings and offer guidance on how to identify them effectively.

 

Explicit versus Implicit Meanings

Explicit information is clear and directly stated, leaving no room for interpretation.

Implicit meaning, on the other hand, is something that is understood without being directly expressed. It relies on implication, assumption, and inference to convey meaning.

 

For example:

 

The dark clouds gathered over the horizon, signalling an approaching storm.

The explicit information here is that the clouds are dark, and a storm is coming. The implicit meaning is that the storm may bring danger or unease. This can be inferred from the ominous tone created by the "dark clouds" and the word "approaching," suggesting something threatening or foreboding.

 

In this case, the implicit meaning requires you to make a logical inference based on the given description. The presence of dark clouds and the word "approaching" point to a looming storm, which, although not explicitly stated, carries a sense of threat or discomfort.

 

Analysing Explicit and Implicit Meanings

 

When identifying and analysing explicit and implicit meanings in a text, it's essential to explain your ideas clearly, always considering the context of the text.

 

This means that you should:

• Base your analysis on the information provided in the text rather than jumping to conclusions that aren't supported by the evidence.
• For example in the sentence, "The woman hurried through the streets, her coat billowing behind her as she glanced nervously at the clock," a logical inference would be that the woman is running late.
• This can be inferred from the use of words like "hurried", "billowing" (suggesting urgency), and "nervously". 
• However, suggesting that she is always late or has a poor sense of time would be an illogical leap, as this information is not provided by the sentence.
• Focus on key words that support the inference you are making.
• For example, in the previous sentence, the word "hurried" is significant because it suggests a sense of urgency, while "nervously" hints that the woman is anxious, likely because she is concerned about being late.
• Explain why the writer may have chosen those specific words.
• In this case, the writer likely chose words like "hurried" and "nervously" to create a sense of tension, which adds depth to the character’s emotions and the situation. The choice of such words helps the reader infer that the woman is in a rush without stating it explicitly.

 

 

The explicit information in the text is:

• The house is old.
• The house is located at the end of a lane.
• The windows of the house are boarded up.
• The garden is overgrown with weeds.
• There is a faint smell of dampness in the air.
• The gate creaks in the wind.

 

Implicit Meaning:

 

• The house is likely abandoned or uninhabited ("its windows boarded up" and "the garden overgrown with weeds".) These details imply that no one is living there, as boarded-up windows and an overgrown garden suggest neglect or abandonment.
• The damp smell hints at possible decay or deterioration inside the house ("A faint smell of dampness lingered in the air".) This suggests that there may be moisture or mould inside, often associated with a neglected or decaying property.
• The creaking gate adds to an eerie or unsettling atmosphere ("the gate creaked ominously in the wind".) The use of the word "ominously" suggests that the sound of the gate is unsettling, contributing to an eerie or spooky feeling about the house.