Given Versus New Information

Overview

The distinction between given information and new information is a fundamental concept in linguistics and communication. Given information refers to what the speaker or writer assumes the listener or reader already knows or can easily infer from the context. New information, conversely, introduces something previously unknown or not activated in the listener’s or reader’s mind.

Key Concepts

Given Information

This is information that is topical, accessible, and previously established. It often relates to:

• Entities already mentioned in the discourse.
• Information shared by the participants.
• General knowledge.

New Information

This is the core of what is being communicated. It adds something to the listener’s or reader’s knowledge base. It can be:

• A new entity or concept.
• A new attribute or event related to existing entities.
• A correction or update to prior knowledge.

Deep Dive

The way information is packaged, often through sentence structure and word order, signals its status as given or new. This is closely related to the concept of topic-comment structure. The topic (often given information) is what the sentence is about, while the comment (often new information) says something about the topic.

Example

Consider the sentence: “The cat sat on the mat.”

• If we already know about a specific cat and a specific mat, “The cat” is given information, and “sat on the mat” is the new information about that cat.
• If we are talking about a specific mat, and want to say which animal sat on it, then “The cat” is the new information.

Applications

Understanding this distinction is vital in:

• Writing clarity: Ensuring smooth transitions and logical flow.
• Effective speaking: Guiding the audience’s attention.
• Language acquisition: How learners process and produce sentences.
• Information retrieval: Designing search queries that match information status.

Challenges & Misconceptions

A common misconception is that given information is always grammatically in the definite form (e.g., ‘the’) and new information is indefinite (‘a’). While often true, context is paramount. Ambiguity can arise when the speaker’s assumption about what is ‘given’ doesn’t match the listener’s knowledge.

FAQs

How does context influence what is considered ‘given’?

Context, including prior discourse, shared knowledge, and the immediate situation, determines what information is accessible and thus ‘given’.

Is ‘given’ information always at the beginning of a sentence?

Not necessarily. While often associated with sentence-initial position (topic), given information can appear elsewhere, depending on the language and communicative intent.