Language as Action
As far as we know, human language is unique. That is not to say that other animals do not communicate via sound, action or signs. They do. Rather, what makes human language unique lies in its complexity. Through human language, we can create a shared understanding about the world, explore possible futures, decide what future we want and then coordinate actions to create it. We can create complex social structures based on moral codes and the rule of law. We can seek to seek to define who we want to become as an individual and strive to be that person. No other animals use language with such variety, yet most of us are unaware of the role language plays in our daily life and pay little or no attention to how we use it. These notes cover an introduction to some of the main distinctions in this approach about how we use language to generate meaning and navigate our way through life.
They do not offer a full explanation of these principles rather they provide a basic understanding of what is involved.
