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Letters
Letters
The Word Is Not Enough • Feed The World? • Courage & Complexity • The Art Of Aesthetics • Argue, Argue, Argue • Existence & Creativity
The Word Is Not Enough
DEAR EDITOR: George Wrisley’s otherwise very good article on Wittgenstein’s ideas about language mentions the proposed difficulty for a child to understand ostensive definition without knowing the language game of, say, ‘pointing’. Surely language must be able to develop without knowing such ground rules, or how would it be able to start in the first place?
Ostensive definition has a very natural and instinctive basis, and is connected with the simple act of reaching. For instance, a child might reach for something that’s just a bit too far away. They then make a face at a nearby parent, sending the message “Hey you, why aren’t you immediately able to understand what I want and immediately getting it?” The adult, seeing quite clearly what’s being reached for, takes the opportunity to teach a word, as happens so often: “Do you want the apple?” (child nods), “The apple?” (child attempts to say yes) “Umpff.” The adult hands over the apple.
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