Perhaps, consciousness is a personal language {private language}, with syntax and grammar, for communicating with oneself. However, internal language independent of human social life cannot describe mental contents [Hunter, 1973] [Wittgenstein, 1953], because language presupposes public rules and symbols.
Languages are for shared-things communication. Private worlds can have no language, and private words have no meaning {private language argument}. In private languages, knowing and not knowing are meaningless [Hunter, 1973] [Wittgenstein, 1953]. Words about conscious states can only be about observable inclinations to behave, not about subjective experience. Public terms must be publicly verifiable. Languages must be public and about public things.
If people have private worlds, minds are like small boxes with moving objects inside {beetle in a box} [Wittgenstein, 1953].
Language has many functions {language game}. For example, language can state facts and define contexts.
Referents can be constant only in contexts. Contexts give referent features and functions, which supply meaning. Referents can be similar in some ways {family resemblance}.
6-Linguistics-Language-Theories
Outline of Knowledge Database Home Page
Description of Outline of Knowledge Database
Date Modified: 2022.0225