An Inferential Theory of Language

Abstract

What is important in developing a realistic perception of language change is to acknowledge that the meaning of words are always contemporary and that what words mean is always open to change. And in our awareness of this change we should also recognize the role of imitation in maintaining usage. And we should also recognize too how usage relates both to memory and to being a part of a language community with a system of signs technically called our sociolect. Note how we educate usage by drilling and repeating words. And the confirmation of that adequacy of our use of conventional usages for certain circles in societies motivates the conservatism of the prescriptivists about our language usage. It is such conservatism that underpins our sense of language correctness. Repetition thus is the basis of our notion of usage.