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Text analysis
Jul. 2nd, 2009 11:41 amI keep mentioning to people that the key to understanding a lot of things is text analysis. Govspeak, lawyerspeak, contracts, lease, tax forms*, anything you sign can have the big picture extracted through simple text analysis. Where's the main verb, main subject (which can be almost a sentence of its own, or group of clauses), object (idem), and so on. Complex sentences can be mapped and understood. Traps avoided. Scams recognised.
Also, it can help fix a problem without the other person knowing they gave you the key.
I did manage to get a digital-to-analog audio decoder box to plug my digital audio out from my TV into my analog Aux on my sound system. Alas! No sound! I knew something was properly connected when changing inputs (dvd to 360) or selecting TV speaker off to on to off gave a brief sound of static. Checking my TV's manual for the audio out, I noticed that it mentioned it could be used to send sound "through 5.1-channel speakers", so I emailed tech support at the decoder's company to ask if I should have gotten their Dolby-specific decoder.
The answer was very precise and technical, telling me that I was more than likely correct as the one I had could only decipher "LCPM" info. It had a whole paragraph of precise technical details, which most would view as "jargon gobbledygook" and dismiss. But checking out and compartimentalising the various text elements made me realise a key question was buried there, asking me what the output through the TV was, to an audio receiver or something else, and it made me think to check the output to the TV - and that I had not checked all the TV inputs for sound on the sound system, only the two connected by HDMI cables.
In went a PS2 game, which only gives out left/right analog sound. Lo and behold, music out through my sound system! Ah-hah! Checked my 360's settings, and it was (by default) outputting 5.1 sound, but had an option for Stereo - and lo, sound comes out! Checked my DVD, and it was outputting "raw" sound, which the manual told me was - you guessed it - Dolby 5.1! The other option was "PCM", and I grinned when I matched that with the above mention that my current decoder was for "LCPM" input. Changed that and voilà, sound!
So now everything works, through the magic of text analysis, without me knowing one iota of what the various jargon terms meant! Grammar IS power.
*in Canada, since we have a plain-language law for these; it reduces inscrutability to the level I talk about above. I had one look at a 1040 form for the US, and good gods on earth and below, someone should be shot for that monstrosity.
Also, it can help fix a problem without the other person knowing they gave you the key.
I did manage to get a digital-to-analog audio decoder box to plug my digital audio out from my TV into my analog Aux on my sound system. Alas! No sound! I knew something was properly connected when changing inputs (dvd to 360) or selecting TV speaker off to on to off gave a brief sound of static. Checking my TV's manual for the audio out, I noticed that it mentioned it could be used to send sound "through 5.1-channel speakers", so I emailed tech support at the decoder's company to ask if I should have gotten their Dolby-specific decoder.
The answer was very precise and technical, telling me that I was more than likely correct as the one I had could only decipher "LCPM" info. It had a whole paragraph of precise technical details, which most would view as "jargon gobbledygook" and dismiss. But checking out and compartimentalising the various text elements made me realise a key question was buried there, asking me what the output through the TV was, to an audio receiver or something else, and it made me think to check the output to the TV - and that I had not checked all the TV inputs for sound on the sound system, only the two connected by HDMI cables.
In went a PS2 game, which only gives out left/right analog sound. Lo and behold, music out through my sound system! Ah-hah! Checked my 360's settings, and it was (by default) outputting 5.1 sound, but had an option for Stereo - and lo, sound comes out! Checked my DVD, and it was outputting "raw" sound, which the manual told me was - you guessed it - Dolby 5.1! The other option was "PCM", and I grinned when I matched that with the above mention that my current decoder was for "LCPM" input. Changed that and voilà, sound!
So now everything works, through the magic of text analysis, without me knowing one iota of what the various jargon terms meant! Grammar IS power.
*in Canada, since we have a plain-language law for these; it reduces inscrutability to the level I talk about above. I had one look at a 1040 form for the US, and good gods on earth and below, someone should be shot for that monstrosity.
