It is indeed not the least of the logician's tasks to indicate the pitfalls laid by language in the way of the thinker.
--Gottlob Frego
*Language is so subtle and complicated an instrument that we often lose sight of the multiplicity of its uses. A not uncommon complaint of those who take too narrow a view of the legitimate uses of language concerns the way in which words are "wasted" at social functi
ttle said!" sums up this kind of criticism.
*People do not talk at parties to instruct each other. An ordinary, "How are you?" is a friendly greeting, not a request for a medical report. Only a bore would tell about the state of his health at great length and in much detail.
*The communicating of ideas is not the chief and only end of language, as is commonly supposed. There are other ends, as the rising of some passion, the exciting to or deterring from an action, the putting the mind in some particular disposition etc.
*Language used to affirm or deny propositions, or to present arguments, is said to be serving the informative function. In this context we use the word "information" to include misinformation; false as well as true propositions, incorrect as well as correct arguments. Informative discourse is used to describe the world, and to reason about it. Whether the alleged facts are important or unimportant, general or particular, does not matter: in any case the language used to describe or report them is being used informatively.
--Gottlob Frego
*Language is so subtle and complicated an instrument that we often lose sight of the multiplicity of its uses. A not uncommon complaint of those who take too narrow a view of the legitimate uses of language concerns the way in which words are "wasted" at social functi
ttle said!" sums up this kind of criticism.
*People do not talk at parties to instruct each other. An ordinary, "How are you?" is a friendly greeting, not a request for a medical report. Only a bore would tell about the state of his health at great length and in much detail.
*The communicating of ideas is not the chief and only end of language, as is commonly supposed. There are other ends, as the rising of some passion, the exciting to or deterring from an action, the putting the mind in some particular disposition etc.
*Language used to affirm or deny propositions, or to present arguments, is said to be serving the informative function. In this context we use the word "information" to include misinformation; false as well as true propositions, incorrect as well as correct arguments. Informative discourse is used to describe the world, and to reason about it. Whether the alleged facts are important or unimportant, general or particular, does not matter: in any case the language used to describe or report them is being used informatively.
