Some questions about language

About This Book

Mortimer J. Adler's "Some Questions about Language" explores the origins and nature of human discourse, asking how meaningless sounds and marks become meaningful words and what those words refer to. Here's a more detailed breakdown: Core Question: The book delves into the fundamental question of how seemingly arbitrary sounds and symbols acquire meaning and become the building blocks of language. Focus on Meaning: Adler examines the referential significance of words, exploring what they point to or represent in the world. Theory of Human Discourse: The book presents a theory of human discourse, aiming to understand the nature of language and its relationship to human thought and communication. Review: A review of the book by Dennis H. Auger in "The Thomist" provides further insight into Adler's arguments. Publication Details: "Some Questions about Language" was published by Open Court Publishing Co in 1976. Availability: You can find the book on websites like Abebooks and Amazon. Related works: Adler is also known for his work on How to Mark a Book.