language games

language games

the conception of LANGUAGE as akin to an assemblage of different ‘games’, like chess, football, children's play and so forth, each governed by a different set of‘rules’ and located in a different FORM or LIFE, and with only very general ‘family resemblances’ in common (WITTGENSTEIN, 1953). According to Wittgenstein, we cannot generalize usefully about language, but must simply notice that language use follows from the rules and practices which operate in particular kinds of use (e.g. jokes, greetings, story telling, as well as science and philosophy) and particular social contexts. As with many games, a further feature of languages viewed as rule-following activities, is that, while rules are followed, they are never followed slavishly but always interpreted. This is a further dimension of the apparently ‘relativistic’ and inherently non-universalizing character of language as portrayed in Wittgenstein's 'S econd’ philosophy variously interpreted by later philosophers and sociologists. See also RULES AND RULE-FOLLOWING, INCOMMENSURABILITY, KUHN, FEYERABEND.

Collins Dictionary of Sociology, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2000