Professional paper
ON LANGUAGE
Josip Užarević
Abstract
The paper discusses language according to its three functions (dimensions): mediatory, artistic, and national and cultural. According to the first function, language is presented as "the medium of the medium" since it does not only absorb and encompass all other media, but it also includes the self-reflective relation as its normal state (the relation to its own self as a medium). This, among
others, enables it to express the I (subject of the statement) and also to affirm paradox as its proper essence. The second function – artistic use of language – refers even more obviously to its paradoxical nature: language in art transcends itself without ceasing to be language. Furthermore, the artistic use of language
activates ("suggests") world semantics which is not characteristic of the utterances of the everyday pragmatic language. Finally, the third function enables the identification of language and nation and their tight (intimate) connection. In distinction from the former (second) function where language is understood as a material for literature, here literature is conceived as a building element for the
national language (consciousness, culture, history, life). Therefore, in all of the three functions language demonstrates its probably most important power or ability – the ability to shape the world.
Keywords
Language; Medium; Language dimensions
Hrčak ID:
17021
URI
Publication date:
12.1.2006.
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