What is Language Game
Language game (Sprachspiel) is the central theory or the kew concept of Ludwig Wittgenstein’s later philosophy.
The definition of language game is ”activities of people follow a rule” of which model is language and its activity, and it can apply all of human activities, expression and behaviours.
For philosophers of the Modern philosophy and the former philosophy of Wittgenstein, language is a tool reflects the fact. But the former philosophy of Wittgenstein turned the view point to language.
Metaphor of Chess
First, Wittgenstein think language as a metaphor of chess. Like chess meanings of words and sentences are relative, and they are regulated by several rules.
Same as chess, language is consist of an unity of various rules. A meaning of a word is a position in which a word occupies. To know a meaning of a word is to know the usage of a word.
And, Wittgenstein adapted language game to all of human acts and behaviours.
Language is Activity
Wittgenstein thought the essence of language is human activity. Wittgenstein grasped language as a dynamic use or act in an actual scene. Because, all statements and perceptions in activity are done by a purpose or a view point.
Our society is network of language game. Language game made us be capable of use language, is a thing sustain the world we live, also is realized by form of life (Lebensform).
Game Precedes Rules / Rules Has Not A Reason
On language, acts precede a grammar. We can play a language game naturally, despite we don’t know the whole rules and we only know fragments of rules.
Then, why do words have meanings ? And, how come words can indicate things ? Because, in language game, words are connected to meanings and things by rules.
But it can’t be guaranteed. It’s only enough to understand rules and to behave following rules. Also we can’t explain all of rules, need not to be aware it. So rules has no absolute reason or root. Rules is being composed in an activity of a language game.
Family Resemblance
Any language games aren’t completely different. Also all language games has not identical essences and contents. But tennis, table tennis and squash are different language games, but they are resemble. And politics, commerce, war, football and jazz performance are partly resemble. Language games forms a network by their resemblances. Wittgenstein named this characteristics of language game family resemblance.
Relativism / Intellectualism
There are many language games in the world. Each of them is a relative thing. But you need to choose one of them by your subjectivity. So, on language game, Intellectualism and relativism are compatible with each other.
Conclusion
From ancient times, philosophers investigated cause or motive on a society or of the world. But Wittgenstein’s language game is groundless fact and act have no cause and necessity. Wittgenstein criticized this bad habit of philosophers. Language game only realized in acts and is sustained by form of life. This view of Wittgenstein is acute rebuke to intellectualism or voluntarism of the Western philosophy. By the concept of family resemblance, essentialism from Plato is denied.
Language game is a theory of philosophy as anti-philosophy. It deconstructed intellectualism and humane subjectivity, the root of philosophy. And the concept of language game resembles Saussurean linguistics, also preceded post-structuralism and post-modernism. Language game opened up the possibility of pluralism, anti-essentialism and anti-intellectualism is valid in the contemporary world.
References
A. C. Grayling, Wittgenstein: A Very Short Introduction (Oxford University Press, 2001)
Daisaburo Hashizume, Language Game for Beginners (Kodansha, 2009)
Paul Strathern, Wittgenstein in 90 Minutes (Ivan R. Dee, 1996)
Ray Monk, How to Read Wittgenstein (W. W. Norton, 2005)
Hitoshi Imamura, 101 People of the Contemporary Thought (Shinshokan, 1999)
Shigeto Nuki, Illustrated & Standard History of Philosophy (Shinshokan, 2008)
Shigeto Nuki, Philosophy Map (Chikuma New Books, 2004)
Seiji Takeda & Ken Nishi, The First Histoty of Philosophy: To Think Profoundly (Yuhikaku, 1998)