Single Idea 23489

[catalogued under 19. Language / F. Communication / 6. Interpreting Language / a. Translation]

Full Idea

When translating one language into another, we do not proceed by translating each proposition of the one into a proposition of the other, but merely by translating the constituents of propositions.

Gist of Idea

We translate by means of proposition constituents, not by whole propositions

Source

Ludwig Wittgenstein (Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus [1921], 4.025)

Book Reference

Wittgenstein,Ludwig: 'Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus (Pears)', ed/tr. Pears,D. /McGuinness,B. [RKP 1961], p.21


A Reaction

This seems opposed to Quine's later holistic view of translating whole languages. Is he objecting to Frege's context principle?

Related Ideas

Idea 7732 Never ask for the meaning of a word in isolation, but only in the context of a proposition [Frege]

Idea 6312 We can never precisely pin down how to translate the native word 'Gavagai' [Quine]