'in the sense that'

[peteryoung]

The phrase 'in the sense that' is widely used in writing, yet I cannot find a explanation for this phrase in dictionaries. Is it correct to understand this as equivalent to 'which means'? That's only my guess.

It is a closed society in the sense that they've not been exposed to many things.

=

It is a closed society, which means that they've not been exposed to many things.


It's voluntary in the sense that the federal government will not require anyone to take the test

=

It's voluntary, which means that the federal goverment will not require anyone to take the test.

Is it right?


I'm not so sure.Would anyone help me? Any reply would be appreciated.

[Mister Micawber]

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Perhaps not 'which means', but 'and one meaning/aspect which I wish to indicate is'.

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[peteryoung]

Thanks, Micawber. I really appreciate this. But do you mean that the part following 'in the sense that' serves as an evidence/example supporting the point made before 'in the sense that'?

My understanding:
It is a closed society in the sense that they've not been exposed to many things.
=
It is a closed society. It is closed in part because they've not been exposed to many things.

I don't know if my understanding is wrong. Thank you. :)

[Mister Micawber]

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In using the phrase, the speaker is intending to narrow down the broader topic aforementioned into a narrower aspect which s/he wishes to speak of or point out.

In your example, 'a closed society' has many aspects-- restricted admission of new members, rigid cultural mores, limited access to the outside, a tendency toward traditionalism, etc. The speaker, after using the words 'a closed society', wishes to limit his/her comments to the 'limited-access-to-the-outside' aspect of it. The speaker is not necessarily defining 'a closed society'; he is limiting the discussion to one sense of the more general topic.

Is that any clearer? (I hope!)

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[peteryoung]

Thanks, I get it. :)

[peteryoung]

Excuse me. May I ask another favor? :) How would you paraphrase the sentence
"It is a closed society in the sense that they've not been exposed to many things."?

Thanks

[Mister Micawber]

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They have not been exposed to many things in the outside world, and in that way they are a 'closed society'.

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[peteryoung]

Thank you very, very much