Twentieth Century Conceptions of Language

How linguists, philosophers and psychologists view the essence of language

Since scholars study the conceptions of language, Twentieth Century Conceptions of Language, provides analysis of these conceptions, including identifying their issues and merits. The book touches on the thinking of a range of notable linguists, philosophers and psychologists, including Bloomfield, Chomsky, Dummett, Fodor, Katz, Labov, Popper, Quine, Sapir, Saussure, Skinner and Wittgenstein. Acknowledgements ix

Mapping out the Market xi

1. Merchandizing Language as Matter: Bloomfield, Harris 1

2. Billing Language as Behavioural: Hall, Hockett, Pike, Skinner, Zuriff, Wittgenstein, Quine 35

3. Selling Language as Soul: Chomsky, Fodor and Others 79

4. Pushing Language as Platonic (Not to mention Popperian): Katz, Langendoen, Postal, Popper, Carr 148

5. Stocking Language as Social Stuff: Saussure, Labov, Sapir, Dummett, Pateman, Itkonen 199

6. Balancing the Book(s) 243

Shutting up Shop 266

Notes 270

Bibliography 313

Index 332