The fact of the matter is that the 'real world' is to a large extent unconsciously built up on the language habits of the group.
Edward SapirRead
No important national language, at least in the Occidental world, has complete regularity of grammatical structure, nor is there a single logical category which is adequately and consistently handled in terms of linguistic symbolism.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Language is inherently irregular and cannot be fully captured by logic.
Edward Sapir's quote speaks to the complexities and irregularities of national languages, especially in the Western world. He suggests that no language possesses a completely regular grammatical structure and that linguistic symbolism fails to consistently represent logical categories, highlighting the limitations of language in conveying structured ideas and the nuances of human thought.
Themes
LanguageGrammarSymbolismIrregularityLogic
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about the challenges of learning a new language, this quote can illustrate the complexities involved.
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All quotes →National languages are all huge systems of vested interests which sullenly resist critical inquiry.
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It is quite an illusion to imagine that one adjusts to reality essentially without the use of language and that language is merely an incidental means of solving specific problems of communication or reflection.
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