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Ascription Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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ascription

[əˈskrɪpʃ(ə)n ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Noun

in linguistics

The assignment of a particular phonetic value to a phonological feature in a given language.

Synonyms

allocation, assignment, attribution.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
ascription

Used when attributing or assigning something to a cause or source, often in a formal or academic context.

  • The ascription of the novel to an unknown author created much debate among literary scholars.
  • His success was largely due to the ascription of his achievements to hard work and dedication.
assignment

Used when designating a task or responsibility to someone, often in educational or professional settings.

  • The assignment of roles in the group project was done by the team leader.
  • Students received their homework assignment at the end of the class.
attribution

Used when giving credit to the creator or source of a piece of work, statement, or idea, often in media, academic, or research contexts.

  • The attribution of the quote to Albert Einstein has been disputed.
  • Proper attribution of sources is essential in academic writing.
allocation

Used when distributing resources, time, or money among various entities or projects, often in management, finance, or government.

  • The allocation of funds to the new project was approved by the board.
  • The teacher's allocation of time meant that each student got individual attention.

Examples of usage

  • The ascription of the phonetic value /t/ to the phoneme /k/ in certain contexts is a common phenomenon in this language.
  • Ascription of phonetic features plays a crucial role in understanding the sound system of a language.
Context #2 | Noun

in philosophy

The act of attributing a quality or property to someone or something.

Synonyms

assignment, attribution, imputation.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
ascription

Used in academic or formal settings when referring to the act of assigning a cause, origin, or characteristic to someone or something.

  • The ascription of these traits to cultural heritage is highly debated.
  • His ascription of the artwork to the Renaissance period was accepted by most historians.
attribution

Typically used in both casual and formal settings to denote the process of indicating the source or author of something, such as a quote, idea, or action.

  • Proper attribution of sources is crucial in academic writing.
  • The scientist's attribution of the discovery to her mentor was gracious and appreciative.
imputation

Often used in legal, religious, or moral contexts to suggest the act of assigning blame or responsibility, sometimes with a negative connotation.

  • The imputation of guilt on the defendant was based on circumstantial evidence.
  • His imputation of dishonesty was met with outrage from his colleagues.
assignment

Commonly used in everyday situations to refer to the act of giving someone a task or responsibility, especially in work or educational environments.

  • The assignment of homework was met with groans from the students.
  • Her assignment of duties to team members was efficient and clear.

Examples of usage

  • The ascription of moral responsibility is a complex philosophical issue.
  • Ascription of intentionality to animals has been a topic of debate among philosophers.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Interesting Facts

Philosophy

  • Ascription plays a vital role in discussions about identity, where philosophers debate how labeling affects our understanding of self.
  • In moral philosophy, ascription is crucial when determining moral responsibility, especially in relation to actions and intentions.

Psychology

  • Human beings tend to make ascriptions in social situations, like assuming someone is friendly because they smile often.
  • Attribution theory in psychology examines how people attribute causes to their own and others' behaviors, which involves ascription.

Education

  • Ascription can influence how students perceive their own abilities when labels are assigned by teachers, such as 'gifted' or 'struggling'.
  • In sociology, ascription refers to how societal factors like race or gender can assign certain roles or statuses to individuals.

Cultural Studies

  • Culturally, ascription can be seen in how certain traits or identities are assigned to individuals based on their background, impacting their experiences.
  • Many cultures have specific ascriptive roles that dictate the expectations and behaviors associated with gender, age, and status.

Origin of 'ascription'

Main points about word origin

  • The word comes from the Latin 'ascriptio,' which means 'adding to' or 'assigning,' showing its roots in the idea of attaching a name or label.
  • In medieval times, the term began to be used in legal contexts, indicating the assigning of rights or responsibilities to individuals.

The word 'ascription' comes from the Latin word 'ascribere', which means 'to attribute to'. Originally used in a legal context, it has evolved to be used in linguistics and philosophy to denote the attribution of qualities or properties to something or someone.

See also: ascribing.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #24,926, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.