wherein

19:54 May 24, 2011
This question was closed without grading. Reason: Other

English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Social Sciences - Media / Multimedia
English term or phrase: wherein
"While there is a sense of living in a shared present for these respondents, other respondents stress the psychological aspects more strongly. They do this by emphasizing television role in providing reassurance, an ontological factor wherein in its daily ongoing nature adds stability and meaning in times of flux."

Although I understand the meaning of the word 'wherein' I can't work it out in this particular context and something seems to be wrong with this sentence but I might be wrong.
rzezucha


SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
4 +1in what particular way, rephrased below
Stephanie Ezrol
4which
Rob Latchford
4(with)in which
Tony M


Discussion entries: 6





  

Answers


2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
which


Explanation:
The pronoun 'which' would seem to make more sense and would be more appropriate for this sentence, along with an extra comma and apostrophe in the underlined words.
"They do this by emphasizing television's role in providing reassurance, an ontological factor which in its daily ongoing nature, adds stability and meaning in times of flux."

Rob Latchford
Canada
Local time: 21:53
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Tony M: Not so sure, Rob. seems to me that the 'daily ongoing nature adding stability...' is perhaps just one part of this 'ontological factor'; note the deliberate use of 'wherein' rather than, say, 'whereby'.
7 hrs
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9 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
(with)in which


Explanation:
This is, after all, what 'wherein' really means, so before changing the sentence, perhaps we ought to give it a try.

I had initially failed to notice the spurious 'in' which seems to have got left in during editing, I'd guess. But if you delete that, and add the 's to 'television', it seems to me to make perfect sense.

I think the author (despite their apparent carelessness!) probably used 'wherein' quite deliberately, suggesting that the aspect of 'stability' afforded by TV is perhaps just one aspect within the whole umbrella term of 'ontological factor' — without seeking to imply that it is the 'ontological factor itself' which '...adds stability', which I feel rather changes the meaning of the sentence.

It seems to me that the subject of 'by its nature adds...' is in fact 'television', and not 'ontological factor'.

Tony M
France
Local time: 05:53
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 12
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16 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
in what particular way, rephrased below


Explanation:
The following rephrasing by adding "is" makes that meaning more clear:

"They do this by emphasizing that television’s role in providing reassurance is an ontological factor, which by its daily ongoing nature, adds stability and meaning in times of flux."

Wherein in this context follows the dictionary defintion of "in what particular or regard" as that particular is "its daily ongoing nature. Televion is "an ontological factor," perhaps one of many ontological factors being examined.

I think the author is saying that television is an ontological factor, and is using the word wherein to describe how television serves as an ontological factor -- that is by "its daily ongoing nature."



Stephanie Ezrol
United States
Local time: 00:53
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Tony M: But your rewording makes 'ontological factor' the subject of 'adds', whereas in fact it is 'television'
2 hrs

agree  Thuy-PTT (X)
13 hrs
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