“What Does This Mean?”
Four words that can feel very loaded in the viva.
If your examiners ask does that mean your thesis didn’t say it? Or was there a mistake? Or…?
In truth, “What does this mean?” could be a simple way to start a new topic. It could be a question that seeks clarity. Or a small question to start exploring something more deeply.
With the importance of the viva it’s easy to see how it can be received as a difficult and troubling question. Your examiners could just want to know more.
“What does this mean?” is a simple question, asked for many reasons.