|
|
|
Yankee
I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 16 Apr 2006
Posts: 8325
Location: USA
|
|
 #3 (permalink) Sun Jul 30, 2006 11:47 am Meaning of "cerebral" |
|
|
| all potted out wrote: |
Dear Teachers,
My dictionary says "cerebral" means "Of or relating to the brain or cerebrum". But this definition doesn't seem to fit in the contexts I read or found in the internet, such as:
"Mirror, mirror on the wall, who among us is fairest of all?" she said.
Bianca straightened up and listened, as if the mirror might answer. If it did, it was in a pitch too cerebral or too hushed for Bianca to hear. |
In this context, I think the author referred to the possibility of the mirror answering in a too high-pitched (head) voice or register for Bianca to hear.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Head_voice
Here's an interesting quote about the ability to hear ultrasound:
| Quote: |
| Some animals, such as dogs, dolphins, bats, and mice have an upper limit that is greater than that of the human ear and thus can hear ultrasound. Children can hear some high-pitched sounds that older adults cannot hear, as in humans the upper limit pitch of hearing gets lower with age. |
|
|
Conchita
Language Coach
Joined: 26 Dec 2005
Posts: 2826
Location: Madrid, Spain
|
 |
| #4 (permalink) Mon Jul 31, 2006 1:27 am Meaning of "cerebral" |
|
|
| Conchita wrote: |
| In this context, I think the author referred to the possibility of the mirror answering in a too high-pitched (head) voice or register for Bianca to hear. |
A don't agree. The noun "pitch" has at least eight different meanings.
The author meant that the answer came back at a level too intellectual for Bianca to understand, or two quiet for her to hear.
On occasion we use the word "hear" to mean understand or comprehend. You can witness this when someone is complaining about something, and the person listening says, "I hear ya, man!" |
|
Jamie (K)
I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 24 Feb 2006
Posts: 6737
Location: Detroit, Michigan, USA
|
|
|
| Meaning of 'throw oneself on the mercy of the Church' | Using comma OR not |
