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<p>This article thematizes the language–practice divide which, in various forms, is posited by proponents of radical linguistics. In tracing the divide back to Saussure’s <italic>Course</italic>, an argument is made for its abolishment. More specifically, I unfold a criticism of Saussure’s account on the differences and similarities between the general phenomenon of language and the practice of a chess game, arguing that there are no grounds for assuming that the two differ in kind, let alone are essentially reducible to their synchronous elements. Finally, I make a move towards exploring the interplay of language and practice by stressing the enlanguaged nature of practical doings and how they emerge from basic cognitive attitudes.</p>
</abstract>

This article thematizes the language–practice divide which, in various forms, is posited by proponents of radical linguistics. In tracing the divide back to Saussure’s Course, an argument is made for its abolishment. More specifically, I unfold a criticism of Saussure’s account on the differences and similarities between the general phenomenon of language and the practice of a chess game, arguing that there are no grounds for assuming that the two differ in kind, let alone are essentially reducible to their synchronous elements. Finally, I make a move towards exploring the interplay of language and practice by stressing the enlanguaged nature of practical doings and how they emerge from basic cognitive attitudes.

Radicalizing radical linguistics: on the need to overcome the language–practice divide

Associate Professor, Department of Language and Communication

Linguistic Frontiers

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

This article thematizes the language–practice divide which, in various forms, is posited by proponents of radical linguistics. In tracing the divide back to...

Radicalizing radical linguistics: on the need to overcome the language–practice divide

Published Online: Oct 26, 2023

Page range: 5 - 9

Received: Jan 01, 2023

Accepted: Feb 01, 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/lf-2023-0013

Keywords
Practice, languaging, language, dualisms, Saussure, cognition, radical linguistics

© 2023 Rasmus Gahrn-Andersen, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Radicalizing radical linguistics: on the need to overcome the language–practice divide

Published Online: Oct 26, 2023

Page range: 5 - 9

Received: Jan 01, 2023

Accepted: Feb 01, 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/lf-2023-0013

KeywordsPractice, languaging, language, dualisms, Saussure, cognition, radical linguistics

© 2023 Rasmus Gahrn-Andersen, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
Practice, languaging, language, dualisms, Saussure, cognition, radical linguistics