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Full Idea
Language consists in propositions, which are made of 'elementary' propositions, which are based ultimately on names. This matches the world of facts, compounded out of 'states of affairs', which are compounded of objects.
Gist of Idea
Language is [propositions-elementary propositions-names]; reality is [facts-states of affairs-objects]
Source
report of Ludwig Wittgenstein (Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus [1921]) by A.C. Grayling - Wittgenstein Ch.2
Book Ref
Grayling,A.C.: 'Wittgenstein' [OUP 2001], p.36
A Reaction
This is Grayling's summary of the basic idea of the 'Tractatus'. The whole thing seems to be an elaborate version of Russell's 'congruence' account of the correspondence theory of truth. Later Wittgenstein is loss of faith in this theory.