backdrop of

English translation: background environment/foundation

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
English term or phrase:backdrop of
Selected answer:background environment/foundation

06:57 May 24, 2011
    The asker opted for community grading. The question was closed on 2011-05-27 07:54:21 based on peer agreement (or, if there were too few peer comments, asker preference.)


English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Social Sciences - Media / Multimedia
English term or phrase: backdrop of
"The activated television set guarantees a nonstop backdrop of verbal communication against which they can construct their personal exchanges" (James Lull Inside Family Viewing)

I'm not sure if I understand this sentence in a correct way. I thought that 'backdrop' is followed by 'for' or 'to' but here we have 'of' so for me there are two options:

(1) television set guarantees a nonstop backdrop which is verbal communication (provided by tv) and on its basis they [viewers] can create their own conversations
(2) television set guarantees a nonstop backdrop to verbal communication and on its basis viewers constract their interpersonal exchanges (meaning contact, relationship)
rzezucha
background environment/foundation
Explanation:
A bit hard to find a good synonym. A "backdrop" is the the back curtain of a theatre that has a scenery painted on it. It is what is behind everything else on stage and provides a sense of environment and even information.

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Note added at 6 mins (2011-05-24 07:03:33 GMT)
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The preposition indicates "composed of". It describes what type of backdrop.
Selected response from:

Jenni Lukac (X)
Local time: 15:01
Grading comment
Thank you. So this is the verbal communication [what can be heard on tv] which is a background to personal exchanges [viewer's conversations]
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
4 +6background environment/foundation
Jenni Lukac (X)


  

Answers


4 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +6
background environment/foundation


Explanation:
A bit hard to find a good synonym. A "backdrop" is the the back curtain of a theatre that has a scenery painted on it. It is what is behind everything else on stage and provides a sense of environment and even information.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 6 mins (2011-05-24 07:03:33 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

The preposition indicates "composed of". It describes what type of backdrop.

Jenni Lukac (X)
Local time: 15:01
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 24
Grading comment
Thank you. So this is the verbal communication [what can be heard on tv] which is a background to personal exchanges [viewer's conversations]

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Liz Dexter (was Broomfield): In this case "backdrop" is being used to describe the verbal communication which is acting AS a background or backdrop to ...
2 mins
  -> Thanks very much, libroediting. "Acting as"/"serving as" are two good ways of explaining it.

agree  Jack Doughty
15 mins
  -> Cheers and thanks, Jack.

agree  Didier Fourcot: Background noise over which one dares to add his own contribution
1 hr
  -> Cheers and thanks Didier.

agree  Phong Le
6 hrs
  -> Greetings and thanks, Phong.

agree  Thuy-PTT (X)
1 day 17 mins
  -> Cheers and thanks, Thuy.

agree  Lara Barnett
2 days 15 hrs
  -> Thanks very much Lara. Have a god weekend.
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