I agree with Mill's perspective suggesting that we say what we say because of representations we see around us in the world. We grow up seeing others refer to certain objects by name, so we in turn put those names into our minds for future reference when we see those objects again. This supports Mill's view that we do not really name things based on an abstract idea or concept, they are simply named what we are referring to.
Locke does not reference the fact that words can also refer to feelings or emotions. He believes that words signify abstract concepts, and this becomes a problem when we want to express an emotion such as happiness because we seem to be referencing something beyond simply the idea of happiness, but we are conveying the actual state of happiness.
When looking at Mill's perspective, we have to ask ourselves about names that can refer to two different objects. When words such as bank or drawer are said, two different objects can come to mind for each word, and this can be a very tricky aspect of our system of language that should be addressed.
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ReplyDeleteI believe Mill directly addressees your concern about words with multiple connotations. There is a brief paragraph on pg 41 (end of chapter 5) that says "Names with indeterminate connotation are not to be confounded with names which have more than one connotation, that is to say, ambiguous words. A word may have several meanings, but all of them fixed and recognized ones; as the word post, for example, or the word box, the various senses of which it would be endless to enumerate. And the paucity of existing names, in comparison with the demand for them, may often render it advisable and even necessary to retain a name in this multiplicity of acceptations, distinguishing these so clearly as to prevent their being confounded with one another. Such a word may be considered as two or more names, accidentally written and spoken alike."
ReplyDeleteSo, I believe Mill is saying that these things happen, and the words may sound the same and look the same, but the signification and identity of these words are still considered different, and it is likely left to context and interpretation to identify the intended signification.
-- Rigo Acevedo