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 homeland of existence, these are entirely new perspectives on the nature of language, differing significantly 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 Mr. Qian Guanlian emphasizes in this work: "Humans live in language, humans must live in language, humans live in programmed language behavior."
Mr. Qian Guanlian has sown the seeds of wisdom in the fertile soil of China, yielding abundant fruits. After absorbing foreign theories in linguistic philosophy and pragmatics, he has ventured further, never forgetting to establish his own doctrines. He always strives to say things that have not been said before, with the book brimming with insightful and concise wisdom. 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 remaining rooted domestically.
In Western philosophy, Mr. Qian has been deeply influenced by Heidegger. This work begins with the phrase, "Language is the homeland of existence." However, Mr. Qian does not confine himself to interpreting Heidegger's ideas or merely copying his words. Instead, he offers his own insights and advancements. A passage in the preface succinctly reflects this: "In Heidegger's mind, the caretaker who dwells in the home built by language is the thinker and the poet. Yet the proposition of this book points out: the one who takes language as the ultimate homeland is every ordinary person, the person in action, the person in language behavior, the person in programmed language behavior."