Word and object

Language consists of dispositions, socially instilled, to respond observably to socially observable stimuli. This book examines the linguistic mechanisms of objective reference. Topics covered include the difficulties involved in translation, the anomalies and conflicts implicit in our language's referential apparatus, the semantic problems connected with the imputation of existence, and the reasons for admitting or repudiating each of various categories of supposed objects. Conclusions reached include rejecting the notion of a language-transcendent "sentence-meaning", and meaningful studies in the semantics of reference can only be directed toward substantially the same language in which they are conducted. (From publisher's copy)

First sentence: This familiar desk manifests its presence by resisting my pressures and by deflecting light to my eyes.

Year

1960

Language

English

Publisher

The MIT Press

Editions

1

Pages

309

ISBN

9780262670012

Data source: Wikidata