A social theory of language: Ludwig Wittgenstein and the current theoretical debate

Abstract

This article attempts to introduce the work of the later Wittgenstein into the current debate on critical theory in order to suggest the essentially social nature of both criticism and theory. It briefly sketches Wittgenstein's theory of language and meaning after the Tracta­tus, emphasizing his concept of language games and the fact that particular language games (including those involving the study of literature) spring from and are sustained by specific 'forms of life". The most important aspects of Wittgenstein's philosophy of lan­guage for the article are (a) his definition of meaning as use, (b) the denial that meaning is a mental event or a product of pre-linguistic consciousness, and (c) the suggestion that language stems from a variety of social practices which control and make possible various forms of discourse, or language games. The article then argues that debates about theory within literature are sustained by social factors - the struggle between 'abnormal' and 'normal' discourse, or the shifting of theoretical paradigms are fundamentally tied up with ways of living within a particular social matrix. It finally argues that we should cease to define literature by searching for an essential property that is common to all 'literary objects', but, following Wittgenstein's maxim that 'meaning is use', we should define literature by its use within a particular community.

Opsomming
Hierdie artikel poog om Wittgenstein se later werk te betrek by die huidige gesprek oor kritiese teorie om sodoende te wys op die wesenlik sosiale aard van sowel kritiek as teorie. Wittgenstein se taal- en betekenisteorie na die Tractatus word kortliks uiteengesit. Klem word op sy konsep van taalspel gele en op die feit dat sekere vorme van taalspel (ook die wat die literatuurstudie betrek) uit spesifieke lewensvorme ontstaan en daardeur onder­steun word. Die belangrikste aspekte van Wittgenstein se taalfilosofie vir die artikel is (a) sy definisie van betekenis as gebruik, (b) die ontkenning van betekenis as 'n verstandelike aktiwiteit of as 'n produk van die pre-linguistiese bewussyn en (c) die bewering dat taal ontstaan uit 'n verskeidenheid sosiale gebruike wat verskeie vorme van redevoering of taalspel beheer en moontlik maak. Daar word aangevoer dat gesprekke oor teorie binne die letterkunde ondersteun word deur sosiale faktore - die stryd tussen 'abnormale' en 'normale' diskoers, of die verandering van teoretiese paradigmas, is in beginsel verbind met die lewenswyses binne 'n bepaalde sosiale matrys. Laastens word geredeneer dat ons moet ophou om literatuur te definieer d.m.v. 'n soeke na 'n wesenlike kenmerk eie aan alle 'literere objekte', maar dat ons Wittgenstein se grondbeginsel van 'betekenis is ge­bruik' moet volg en letterkunde moet definieer volgens sy gebruik binne 'n bepaalde gemeenskap.