Language consists of dispositions, socially instilled, to respond                  observably to socially observable stimuli. Such is the point of view from which a                  noted philosopher and logician examines the notion of meaning and the linguistic                  mechanisms of objective reference. In the course of the discussion, Professor Quine                  pinpoints the difficulties involved in translation, brings to light the anomalies                  and conflicts implicit in our language's referential apparatus, clarifies semantic                  problems connected with the imputation of existence, and marshals reasons for                  admitting or repudiating each of various categories of supposed objects. He argues                  that the notion of a language-transcendent "sentence-meaning" must on the whole be                  rejected; meaningful studies in the semantics of reference can only be directed                  toward substantially the same language in which they are conducted.

Word and Object (Studies in Communication) PDF

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