Epistemology of language: some paradigmas explain this phenomenon

Abstract

ABSTRACT

The value and importance of language as an element of socialization among humans is indisputable. Language fosters culture, then it is the basis of culture in society. This article aims to synthesize the journey made for language to be considered a science, from dualistic theories to contemporary linguistic theories, evidencing philosophical positions in each perspective and their contributions for language studies to achieve its current status. A bibliographic research allowed an appreciation of the three most significant models for understanding language and meaning: realism; Mentalism and Pragmatism. It was found that
language arouses the attention of the Greek sophists and philosophers, although there are differences between them, since the locus of the essence for Aristotle is the soul and for Plato, the essence is in the reality. But for both, words, real or mental, are essences. Therefore, it can be understood that the contributions to the understanding of language and meaning arising from the oldest thought arise precisely from the tension between essentialism and relativism; and these discussions are still present in contemporaneity, starting with Witttgeinstein, Russel, Frege, Habermas, Foucault, Derrida and result in current studies of language, such as the theory of enunciation, of speech acts, of the analysis of
speech. speech, and other areas that interface with language. Martins (2005), Santaella (2016), Fiorin (2oo4, 2017) and Demolin and Storto (2017), among other theorists, supported the argument in this text.

Keywords: Epistemology. Language. Meaning. Knowledge.