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Single Idea 2604

[from 'How there could be a private language' by Jerry A. Fodor, in 18. Thought / B. Mechanics of Thought / 4. Language of Thought ]

Full Idea

I am denying that one can learn a language whose expressive power is greater than that of a language that one already knows.

Gist of Idea

We must have expressive power BEFORE we learn language

Source

Jerry A. Fodor (How there could be a private language [1975], p.389)

Book Reference

'The Philosophy of Mind', ed/tr. Beakley,B /Ludlow P [MIT 1992], p.389


A Reaction

I presume someone who had a native language of limited vocabulary could learn a new language with a vast vocabulary. I can increase my expressive power with a specialist vocabulary (e.g. legal).