Maybe its a sign!

In book III of An Essay to Understanding, John Locke mentions the importance on signs in regards to creating a more unified language. Locke prefaces the essay by mentioning that language is imperfect by basing one of his major arguments on “signs.” In order to develop a clearer meaning of the word “sign,” there have been excerpts from the Bedford Glossary and Locke’s essay. The idea is these theories can be applied today as the term “book” can be viewed differently based on generations that have previously identified with a sign of the book.  His approach to readers challenges them to identify with a language that is indefinite and uncertain just as technology is.

           

In order to understand this discourse, readers must begin by defining signs and significations. According to the Bedford Glossary, a sign is something that stands for something else, or in other words represents obstacles of our own making in the language (Murfin & Ray 475). This text introduces a linguist, Ferdinand Saussure, ideas that coincide with Locke by stating that “the meaning of any given sign arises from the difference between it and other signs in the same linguistic system” (Murfin & Ray 476).  This theory emphasizes that “differences in meaning..are learned conventions that speakers understand as if they were positive qualities” (Murfin & Ray 476).  Locke believes that words are used to signify ideas and meaning, which we tend to give words are own meaning based on our experiences. This concept contributes to the idea that language is imperfect, because the same sign will carry an inconsistent meaning. These differences help to define any given sign, while making it complicate to determine a singular meaning.

            In particular, Locke elaborates on the purpose of having a codified sign within the language in propositions 12-15. He believes that words don’t have meanings, but the attachment to the word gives it meaning. To enumerate, words mean differently based on the person who has previously assigned a sign to the word. Locke points to the idea of “essence” or “real constitution of things” are facts that we believe exists, but are unsure of it to be definite. He supports this idea of uncertainty by stating, “the precise complex idea others make them the signs of is not so certain” (Locke 823). For instance, the perception of a book changes based on the reader Any given reader establishes his or her own meaning or sign associated with that particular book. For instance, a younger child may gravitate towards color books than works from Locke as a university student would. The idea of multiple definitions proves that language is imperfect. In any given situation, a word can embody a vast number of signs.

            He continues in later propositions to mention that in debate, “each of them made it a sign of a different complex idea” (Locke 822). The simple idea of “book” could then be given an alternate meaning due to the advancement in technology. Initially, a book may have been considered to have a front and back cover that accompanied text. With the advanced technology, the traditional form of the book has been adapted onto the kindle. This modern version of the book has different features that complicate the pre-existing signs related to the book. Instead, these books allow readers to scroll and search, making the experience more interactive. Needless, to say this complex idea invites people to develop their own idea of what a book is. Younger generations may believe that a book is of the latter meaning, while older generations may contend. Younger generations may have more experience with this “book” to believe that a kindle is practically a book.

            In conclusion, Locke supports the idea that there isn’t one sign for every word. Therefore, this reaffirms the idea that language is imperfect along with being multifaceted. For this reason, language fails to establish one meaning because of the power given to the speakers and hearers of the words. Both are able to determine different ways to interpret the word based on the context and their own experiences. Similar to how language evolves, technology will continue to change the meaning of the books.

-Erin Schwartz