Language: The Last Home of Humanity

Author: Qian Guanlian
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-04-01
Features: Of course, whether viewing language as the very essence of thought or understanding it as the ultimate home of existence, these are entirely new perspectives on the nature of language, differing greatly from traditional philosophy and conventional ways of thinking about language. If one merely observes language from an empirical level, its instrumental nature seems to dominate. However, a deeper analysis reveals that the language activities we observe are not merely about expressing or transmitting something else—they are, in themselves, a form of human activity, a socially transformed instinctual behavior. This is the central idea that Qian Guanlian emphasizes in this work: "Humans live in language, humans must live in language, humans live in programmed language behavior."
Qian Guanlian has sown the seeds of wisdom in the fertile soil of China, yielding abundant fruits. After absorbing foreign theories of linguistic philosophy and pragmatics, he has ventured further, never forgetting to establish his own doctrines. He always strives to say things that no one else has said before, and the book is filled with insightful yet concise remarks. The folk discourse examples used in the book are vivid and grounded, the analyses logical and refreshing, bringing a strong rural flavor to academia in China and reminding us of what it means to look outward while staying rooted domestically.
In Western philosophy, Qian has been deeply influenced by Heidegger. This work begins with the phrase, "Language is the home of being." However, Qian does not limit himself to interpreting Heidegger's ideas or merely copying his words—he offers his own insights and advancements. A passage in the introduction succinctly reflects this: "In Heidegger's view, the guardians who dwell in the home built by language are thinkers and poets. Yet the proposition of this book points out: those who take language as their ultimate home are every ordinary person, the person in action, the person in language behavior, the person in programmed language behavior."