Philosophical Grammar 30

30.  The words “fine”, “oh”, “perhaps” …can be the expression of a feeling. But I don’t call that feeling the meaning of the word.

I can replace the sensation by intonation and gestures.

I could also treat the word (e.g. “oh”) itself as a gesture

yes –

we can relace the sensation with intonation and gestures –

and treat the word itself as a gesture –

still the question of meaning remains

and any response to that question –

will be open to question

language does not determine language

we use language without knowing

the grammar of language –

is the grammar of uncertainty

© greg t. charlton. 2014.