[lit-ideas] Re: Is this word really necessary?

  • From: Robert Paul <rpaul@xxxxxxxx>
  • To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 20:28:33 -0700

JL opines

Upon his visit to Australia, Coward was asked what he had learned, basically, in Australia. He replied, "kangaroo". I would claim that alla Wittgenstein's 'language-games', a game with the word 'kangaroo' would be 'unnecessary' in, say, Memphis, Tennessee. Words spring out of the 'necessities' of life.

Sometimes, sometimes not. 'To imagine a language, is to imagine a form of life.' But the scope of 'language' and of 'form of life' are left indeterminate. If Wittgenstein had been asked to pronounce on a word whose meaning was in dispute between some Roman legionary and a Germanic tribesman he would probably have said 'Have it any way you like.'

Mike Geary has said to the Memphis zoo keeper on many occasions, 'This place could use some kangaroos,' and present-day Mauritiusans often speak of the Golden Age of the dodo bird with reverence.

Robert Paul



------------------------------------------------------------------
To change your Lit-Ideas settings (subscribe/unsub, vacation on/off,
digest on/off), visit www.andreas.com/faq-lit-ideas.html

Other related posts: