Full Idea
It would be absurd to say the Hopi lack the concept of time because they lack tensed verbs, ..but how do we find out what a man's concepts are except in terms of his language?
Gist of Idea
A person's language doesn't prove their concepts, but how are concepts deduced apart from language?
Source
David E. Cooper (Philosophy and the Nature of Language [1973], §5.2)
Book Reference
Cooper,David E.: 'Philosophy and the Nature of Language' [Longman 1979], p.115
A Reaction
Presumably we should look at animals, where concepts must be inferred in order to explain behaviour. I don't see why introspection (scientifically wicked) should not also be employed to detect our own non-verbal concepts. How are new words invented?