Way of Knowing: Language How does language have meaning?

Way of Knowing: Language

Way of Knowing: Language

Way of Knowing: Language

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Way of Knowing: Language When people use language poorly, it’s incredibly obvious to us That also implies, however, that most of the time when it is used correctly, we do not notice What, then, is a correct use of language, what do we want it to DO?

Way of Knowing: Language We will be looking at three main theories today of how language gets its meaning

Way of Knowing: Language Idea 1: Definition theory This is the idea that each and every one of our words has a specific definition, and when we use that word we remember what that definition is For example, a chair is any object that was designed for the sole purpose of sitting one person on

Way of Knowing: Language Try defining the following: A Circle A Tree Love The Second World War

Way of Knowing: Language Consider this dialogue: “It’s raining outside” “I have a spare umbrella”

Way of Knowing: Language Even if you knew the precise definitions of ALL of the words in those two sentences, you still wouldn’t understand the meaning the second one is trying to convey, namely “You can borrow my other umbrella” It would seem, then, that there is something more complicated going on than the simple use of definitions Do we need to distinguish between ‘literal’ meaning and ‘practical’ meaning?

Way of Knowing: Language Idea 2: Denotation theory Each phrase or sentence we use denotes (refers to) an actual external concept The phrases ‘Indigo’ and ‘Saturn’ make sense, because they sort of point us towards those external concepts

Way of Knowing: Language So the sentences “I’m jogging to Horsham tomorrow” and “I’m glurmfing to Sptzandrew next Blursday” are distinct, because the first has actual physical correspondences, and the second does not

Way of Knowing: Language Draw Santa

Way of Knowing: Language The fact that you all drew (more or less) the same picture shows that there must be more to language than just Denotation theory You all understood my request, and what I meant by ‘Santa’, so there must be meaning there Yet, the concept of ‘Santa’ doesn’t obtain, it doesn’t point you at an actual physical being (sorry kids)

Way of Knowing: Language Idea 3: Image Theory This is the theory that the meaning of a word has nothing to do with what defines a word, and instead is about what you picture when you hear that word Think about it as an ‘image in your head’. If something causes that image in your mind, then that is what it means

Way of Knowing: Language For example, when I said ‘Draw Santa’ you all pictured the same jolly bearded fat man Therefore, that is what the word ‘Santa’ means, because it corresponded to the word in your head

Way of Knowing: Language This is problematic, however, when people are wrong Say you use the phrase ‘the tallest person in the class’ However, because I’m an idiot, I’ve completely misunderstood the word ‘tallest’ all my life, and I think it means ‘person with the blondest hair’ Therefore, when you are talking about the tallest person in the room, I’m picturing Max, so is that therefore what the word ‘tallest’ means to me?

Way of Knowing: Language ‘Meaning is use’ (Wittgenstein) Meaning is a rule for how to use a word or sentence. This can be depend on context. You can’t give the meaning of individual words without considering the context. Not all meanings – even of nouns – work by pointing to an object, even an image in your head The bus passes the bus stop The peace of the Lord passes all understanding. Using language is like playing a game – you follow the rules that govern that game.

Way of Knowing: Language Write a description of yourself on a piece of paper using ONLY simile and metaphor So instead of saying ‘I have blondey-brown hair’ I might say ‘My head looks like an unkempt mouse” Get as accurate as a description as you can Pass the sheets of paper around Can you work out who it is just by the similes and metaphors?

Way of Knowing: Language How do you think we can explain the existence of analogy? We don’t mean that it is literally true when we say ‘I could eat a horse’, so what is the meaning we are trying to convey? Why?