The semantic foundations and implications of signific language gradations

Abstract

ABSTRACT : Looking at the history of linguistics, it is possible to discover over and above the more well-known conceptions of language, linguistic structure, description and analysis, so called < language-gradation-theories » which have gone almost unnoticed, and in which semantic aspects are central to the analysis of linguistic structure (Sprachaufbau). So as to characterize the different backgrounds and purposes of such theories, the first part of this investigation is devoted to the relevant reflections of J. H. Lambert, F. Tônnies, and F. Waisman. It is demonstrated in the second part that the analytic and synthetic gradations of language, developed by Gerrit Mannoury, the most important theoretician of the Dutch signifie movement, are related to these theories. His analytic language gradation is based on the observation that so called « linguistic acts » are associated to very different degrees with other representations or complexes of representations, such that many names of persons, for example, are mainly associated with non-auditive representations, others, and for example, mathematical terms almost exclusively with combinations of words. The synthetic gradation of language proceeds from the opposite end of the hierarchy. In this case, one starts from terms belonging to analytically higher language levels as intentionally chosen « basic words », from which an artificial terminology for the psychology of the individual is derived by means of systematic step by step definitions. This terminology is itself expanded step by step to form a terminology for general psychology, physics, biology, economics, etc., until a close connection with the natural language is achieved. Whereas analytical language gradations have a communication-semantic and empirical orientation, the synthetic ones prove to be extra-communicationa! and logico-formalistic ; purposes and areas of application diverge correspondingly.