56. A gesture language used to communicate with people who have no word
language in common with us. Do we feel there too the need to go outside
language to explain its signs?
The correlation between objects and names is a part of the symbolism. It
gives the wrong idea if you say that the connection is a psychological one.
any language – gesture – word – or other – will beg explanation –
this ‘correlation between objects and names is part of the symbolism’ –
is a description – an explanation
a proposal – for how language
works –
or if you like – of the relation between the word and the world –
and as with any description – any explanation – any proposition –
open to question – open to doubt – uncertain
‘it gives the wrong idea if you say that the connection is a
psychological one’ –
the real question is – in what context and to what end – does this
proposal –
‘that the connection is a psychological one’ –
have currency – have function?
© greg t. charlton. 2014.
