1. Way of Knowing: Language
How does language have meaning?

2. Way of Knowing: Language

3. Way of Knowing: Language

4. Way of Knowing: Language

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Queen Mary Having Bottom Scraped

6. 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?

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

8. 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

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

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

11. 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?

12. 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

13. 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

14. Way of Knowing: Language
Draw Santa

15. 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)

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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?

19. 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.

20. 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?

21. 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?