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representation noun 1

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What does the noun representation mean?

There are 19 meanings listed in OED's entry for the noun representation , three of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

representation has developed meanings and uses in subjects including

How common is the noun representation ?

How is the noun representation pronounced?

British english, u.s. english, where does the noun representation come from.

Earliest known use

Middle English

The earliest known use of the noun representation is in the Middle English period (1150—1500).

OED's earliest evidence for representation is from around 1450, in St. Elizabeth of Spalbeck .

representation is of multiple origins. Either (i) a borrowing from French. Or (ii) a borrowing from Latin.

Etymons: French representation ; Latin repraesentātiōn- , repraesentātiō .

Nearby entries

• reprehensory, adj. 1576–1825
• repremiation, n. 1611
• represent, n. a1500–1635
• represent, v.¹ c1390–
• re-present, v.² 1564–
• representable, adj. & n. 1630–
• representamen, n. 1677–
• representance, n. 1565–
• representant, n. 1622–
• representant, adj. 1851–82
• representation, n.¹ c1450–
• re-presentation, n.² 1805–
• representational, adj. 1850–
• representationalism, n. 1846–
• representationalist, adj. & n. 1846–
• representationary, adj. 1856–
• representationism, n. 1842–
• representationist, n. & adj. 1842–
• representation theory, n. 1928–
• representative, adj. & n. a1475–
• representative fraction, n. 1860–

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Meaning & use

Pronunciation, compounds & derived words, entry history for representation, n.¹.

representation, n.¹ was revised in December 2009.

representation, n.¹ was last modified in June 2024.

oed.com is a living text, updated every three months. Modifications may include:

• further revisions to definitions, pronunciation, etymology, headwords, variant spellings, quotations, and dates;
• new senses, phrases, and quotations.

Revisions and additions of this kind were last incorporated into representation, n.¹ in June 2024.

Earlier versions of this entry were published in:

OED First Edition (1906)

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OED Second Edition (1989)

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Citation details

Factsheet for representation, n.¹, browse entry.

• Cambridge Dictionary +Plus

Meaning of representation in English

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representation noun ( ACTING FOR )

• Defendants have a right to legal representation and must be informed of that right when they are arrested .
• The farmers demanded greater representation in parliament .
• The main opposing parties have nearly equal representation in the legislature .
• The scheme is intended to increase representation of minority groups .
• The members are chosen by a system of proportional representation.
• admissibility
• extinguishment
• extrajudicial
• extrajudicially
• fatal accident inquiry
• federal case
• pettifoggery
• pettifogging
• plea bargain
• plea bargaining
• the Webster ruling
• walk free idiom
• witness to something

representation noun ( DESCRIPTION )

• anti-realism
• anti-realist
• complementary
• confederate
• naturalistically
• non-figurative
• non-representational
• representational
• symbolization
• ultrarealism

representation noun ( INCLUDING ALL )

• all manner of something idiom
• alphabet soup
• it takes all sorts (to make a world) idiom
• non-segregated
• odds and ends
• of every stripe/of all stripes idiom
• this and that idiom
• variety is the spice of life idiom
• wide choice

representation | Business English

Examples of representation, collocations with representation.

• representation

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Translations of representation

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an area of coral, the top of which can sometimes be seen just above the sea

Robbing, looting, and embezzling: talking about stealing

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• representation (ACTING FOR)
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• make representations to sb
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Article contents

Representation and journalism.

• Toussaint Nothias Toussaint Nothias Center for African Studies, Stanford University
• https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780190228613.013.868
• Published online: 28 February 2020

The concept of representation is a cornerstone of the field of cultural studies. Representations are symbols, signs, and images used to communicate and construct meaning. They are at stake in a variety of fundamental cognitive processes such as perception and imagination. Language, for instance, is based on a system of representation where words stand for something else, such as an object or an idea. Representations are thus central to the process by which individuals and societies make sense of the world, assign meaning, and delineate norms, rules, and identities.

Journalism is a key site of production of representations. Unlike most other fields of cultural production, journalism is grounded in a regime of truth: it claims to represent the world as it is. Scholars interested in representation and journalism have largely opposed those claims. Journalism always involves covering certain events over others. News stories necessarily prioritize certain frames, voices, and contextual information, which creates peculiar kinds of representations. Those representations are constrained by the working conditions of journalists, but they are also shaped by broader political, economic, cultural, and historical contexts. In that sense, journalism creates representations but also reproduces representations that exist elsewhere in society.

Because the concept of representation points toward broader social forces involved in meaning construction, it has largely been used to explore the operations of power. Instead of asking “is any given representation true? ” cultural studies scholars have been more interested in asking “how do relationships of power, domination, and inequality shape representations?” As a result of its development in the field of cultural studies, the study of representation has largely been oriented towards questions of inequalities and identity, most notably gender, race, ethnicity, and class.

With regard to the study of representation and journalism, three broad areas of inquiries are delineated. The first concerns how journalism represents different social groups, places, events, and issues through its coverage. This literature is wide and covers a range of issues in both domestic and international coverage. Most of those studies focus on the linguistic, rhetorical, and visual properties of media texts to deconstruct the ideological operations behind what often appears natural and common sense in the news. Another strand of research looks at similar issues of representation but in the context of journalistic production. In particular, these studies centralize the importance of who makes the news to understand the peculiar representations that journalism ultimately produces. Often relying on surveys, statistical data, or ethnography, these have contributed to an understanding of issues such as gender inequalities and lack of diversity in newsrooms. A final—and more discreet—literature investigates how journalism itself is represented in popular culture. Novels, films, television, commercials, cartoons, art, and video games routinely construct representations of journalism and journalists. These representations play a role in shaping popular mythologies around journalism and its role in society.

• cultural studies
• representation
• journalism studies
• newsroom diversity
• racial and gender inequalities
• journalistic language
• Stuart Hall
• popular culture

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date: 10 August 2024

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What is Representation Theory and how is it used? Oxford Mathematics Research investigates

Oxford Mathematician Karin Erdmann  specializes in the areas of algebra known as representation theory (especially modular representation theory) and homological algebra (especially Hochschild cohomology). Here she discusses her latest work.

"Roughly speaking, representation theory investigates how algebraic systems can act on vector spaces. When the vector spaces are finite-dimensional this allows one to explicitly express the elements of the algebraic system by matrices, hence one can exploit linear algebra to study 'abstract' algebraic systems. In this way one can study symmetry, via group actions. One can also study irreversible processes. Algebras and their representations provide a natural frame for this.

An algebra is a ring which also is a vector space such that scalars commute with everything. An important construction are path algebras: Take a directed graph $Q$, which we call a quiver, and take a coefficient field $K$. Then the path algebra $KQ$ is the vector space over $K$ with basis all paths in $Q$. This becomes an algebra, where the product of two basis elements is either its concatenation if this exists, or is zero otherwise.

Algebras generalize groups, namely if we start with a group, we get naturally an algebra: take the vector space with basis labelled by the group, and extend the group multiplication to a ring structure.

When the coefficients are contained in the complex numbers, representations of groups have been studied for a long time, and have many applications. With coefficients in the integers modulo $2$, for example, the algebras and their representations are much harder to understand. For some groups, the representations have 'finite type'. These are well-understood but almost always they have 'infinite type'. With a few exceptional 'tame' cases, these are usually 'wild', that is there is no hope of a classification of the representations.

The same cases occur precisely for modulo 2 arithmetic and when the symmetry is based on dihedral or semidihedral or quaternion 2-groups. Dihedral 2-groups are symmetries of regular $n$-gons when $n$ is a power of 2. The smallest quaternion group is the famous one discovered by Hamilton.

Viewing these symmetries from groups in the wider context of algebras was used (a while ago) to classify such tame situations. Recently it was discovered that this is part of a much larger universe. Namely one can construct algebras from surface triangulations, in which the ones from the group setting occur as special cases.

One starts with a surface triangulation, and constructs from this a quiver, that is, a directed graph: Replace each edge of the triangulation by a vertex, and for each triangle

where in the last case $a=c\neq b$. At any boundary edge, draw a loop.

For example, consider triangulation of the torus with two triangles, as shown below. Then there are, up to labelling, two possible orientations of triangles and two possible quivers:

The tetrahedral triangulation of the sphere

gives rise to several quivers, depending on the orientation of each triangle, for example:

The crystal in the north wing of the Andrew Wiles Building, home of Oxford Mathematics (image drawn above) can be viewed as a triangulation of a surface with boundary. We leave drawing the quiver to the reader.

Starting with the path algebra of such a quiver, we construct algebras by imposing explicit relations, which mimic the triangulation. Although the quiver can be arbitrarily large and complicated, there is an easy description of the algebras. We call these 'weighted surface algebras.' This is joint work with A. Skowronski .

We show that these algebras place group representations in a wider context. The starting point is that (with one exception) the cohomology of a weighted surface algebra is periodic of period four, which means that these algebras generalize group algebras with quaternion symmetry.

The relations which mimic triangles can be degenerated, so that the product of two arrows around a triangle become zero in the algebra. This gives rise to many new algebras. When all such relations are degenerated, the resulting algebras are very similar to group algebras with dihedral symmetry. If we degenerate relations around some but not all triangles, we obtain algebras which share properties of group algebras with semidihedral symmetry. Work on these is in progress."

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representation  

Alisdair rogers,, noel castree,, rob kitchin.

The act of capturing in words, images, or other communicative media the characteristics of things taken to exist or occur outside these media. The term ‘representation’ is both a verb and a noun: it refers to a process and its various products. It involves acts of substitution and translation in which different people make sense of the world in various ways and then concretize those sense-making acts in forms that can be shared with others. As cultural critic Michael Shapiro once put it, despite frequent appearances to the contrary, ‘Representations do not “imitate” reality but are the practices through which things take on meaning and value…’ (... ...

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Synonyms of representations

• as in pictures
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Thesaurus Definition of representations

Synonyms & Similar Words

• photographs
• illustrations
• resemblances
• delineations
• silhouettes
• watercolors
• caricatures
• hieroglyphs
• hieroglyphics
• finger paintings
• pictographs

Thesaurus Entries Near representations

representationalism

representations

representative

Cite this Entry

“Representations.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/representations. Accessed 10 Aug. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on representations

Nglish: Translation of representations for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of representations for Arabic Speakers

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Agency in Representation – Definition and Explanation

Understanding agency in representation: key to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

In the realm of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), the concept of Agency in Representation plays a pivotal role. It encapsulates the idea of empowering individuals or groups to portray themselves authentically, accurately, and inclusively in various contexts. 

Definition:

Agency in Representation refers to the ability of individuals or groups to control and shape how they are depicted or portrayed in society, media, organisations, or any other platforms. It embodies the power to assert one’s identity, narratives, and experiences, thereby challenging stereotypes, biases, and misrepresentations.

Importance:

• Empowerment: Granting agency in representation empowers marginalised communities to reclaim their narratives and identities, fostering a sense of pride and self-worth.
• Authenticity: Authentic representation allows for a more nuanced understanding of diverse experiences, promoting empathy, understanding, and cultural appreciation.
• Visibility: Providing agency ensures visibility for underrepresented voices, contributing to a more inclusive and representative society.
• Challenge Stereotypes: By controlling their representation, individuals and groups can challenge harmful stereotypes and misconceptions, fostering a more accurate and inclusive portrayal.
• Cultural Competence: Embracing agency in representation fosters cultural competence and sensitivity, leading to better communication and collaboration across diverse groups.

Consider the film industry’s shift towards more inclusive storytelling. Historically, marginalised communities, such as people of colour, LGBTQ+ individuals, and individuals with disabilities, have often been misrepresented or relegated to stereotypical roles. However, with a growing emphasis on agency in representation, we see films like “Black Panther,” directed by Ryan Coogler, which celebrates African culture and portrays Black characters as empowered and multidimensional. This film not only resonated with audiences worldwide but also challenged stereotypes, showcasing the importance of authentic representation.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, Agency in Representation serves as a cornerstone in the pursuit of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. By granting individuals and groups the power to shape their narratives, we foster empowerment, authenticity, and inclusivity. Embracing agency in representation not only enriches our cultural landscape but also paves the way for a more equitable and compassionate society.

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Definition of proportional representation noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

proportional representation

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Intersecting Aesthetics: Literary Adaptations and Cinematic Representations of Blackness

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Gillian Roberts, Intersecting Aesthetics: Literary Adaptations and Cinematic Representations of Blackness, Adaptation , Volume 17, Issue 2, August 2024, Pages 338–340, https://doi.org/10.1093/adaptation/apae008

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Intersecting Aesthetics: Literary Adaptations and Cinematic Representations of Blackness is a vital contribution to adaptation studies. Its focus on Blackness on both page and screen powerfully demonstrates the stakes of adaptation for cultural production, representation, and cultural autonomy. Divided into five sections—Black Literary/Film Adaptations in Scholarly and Historical Contexts; Colonial Anxieties and Reclaimed Identities; Hollywood’s Problematic Reconstructions; Black Literature’s Challenge for Screen Adaptations; and Black Auteurs Defying Dominant Norms—the collection’s eleven essays focus on twentieth-century Black film adaptations. As two of the volume’s editors, Charlene Regester and Cynthia Baron, note in their introduction, these chapters ‘consider how Black literary and filmic texts become sites of negotiation between dominant and resistant perspectives in racialized societies’ (3) in attempting to answer the book’s ‘central research question: what insights about society, cinema, and literary works become visible when the scholarship concentrates on film adaptations involving Black writers, directors, or stories?’ (4). Grappling with this question is long overdue in adaptation studies, as Regester and Baron evidence in their tracing of the lack of frequency with which the field has addressed Blackness and film adaptation, most often limited (where it appears at all) to a single chapter in a collection or monograph.

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Who Are the Far-Right Groups Behind the U.K. Riots?

After a deadly stabbing at a children’s event in northwestern England, an array of online influencers, anti-Muslim extremists and fascist groups have stoked unrest, experts say.

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By Esther Bintliff and Eve Sampson

Esther Bintliff reported from London, and Eve Sampson from New York.

Violent unrest has erupted in several towns and cities in Britain in recent days, and further disorder broke out on Saturday as far-right agitators gathered in demonstrations around the country.

The violence has been driven by online disinformation and extremist right-wing groups intent on creating disorder after a deadly knife attack on a children’s event in northwestern England, experts said.

A range of far-right factions and individuals, including neo-Nazis, violent soccer fans and anti-Muslim campaigners, have promoted and taken part in the unrest, which has also been stoked by online influencers .

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has vowed to deploy additional police officers to crack down on the disorder. “This is not a protest that has got out of hand,” he said on Thursday. “It is a group of individuals who are absolutely bent on violence.”

Here is what we know about the unrest and some of those involved.

Where have riots taken place?

The first riot took place on Tuesday evening in Southport, a town in northwestern England, after a deadly stabbing attack the previous day at a children’s dance and yoga class. Three girls died of their injuries, and eight other children and two adults were wounded.

The suspect, Axel Rudakubana , was born in Britain, but in the hours after the attack, disinformation about his identity — including the false claim that he was an undocumented migrant — spread rapidly online . Far-right activists used messaging apps including Telegram and X to urge people to take to the streets.

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