71. I posses the concept of ‘language’ from the languages I have learnt.
“But languages can expand”; if ‘expand’ makes sense here, I must now be able to
specify how I imagine an expansion.
No sign leads us beyond itself.
Does every newly constructed language broaden the concept of language? –
comparison with the concept of number.
‘expand’ doesn’t make any sense here
the idea suggests a measurable quantum –
what? – every time a different proposition is put –
the quantum goes up
when a proposition is not used – it goes down?
what rubbish
I could get more ridiculous and ask – who measures this?
no-one – can it measured? – no –
so a non-measurable quantum –
great idea
language is language use –
and any language use is open to question – open to doubt – uncertain
it is this uncertainty that is
the ground or of any change in usage
‘no sign leads beyond itself’?
this is a very odd remark to make –
the whole point of a sign is that it signifies – and to signify is to
point beyond –
to point to other signs –
a sign does stand alone – it does not function in a linguistic vacuum
a sign is a proposal – open to question – open to doubt – uncertain
it is this uncertainty – that exposes the possibilities of the sign –
the possibilities of interpretation – of connection – of use
‘Does every newly constructed language broaden the concept of language?’
language is the use of signs –
can you get any broader than that?
as to number –
the ground of mathematics is uncertainty –
so really mathematical discoveries –
should be no surprise
© greg t. charlton. 2014.