The connection between words and ideas are not natural but voluntary imposition and arbitrary. The ideas that words stand for are their proper and immediate signification. No matter how imperfectly or carelessly those ideas are collected from the things that they are supposed to represent, words are the immediate signification of nothing but the ideas in the mind of him that uses them. In order for the ideas to be understood, they need to be conveyed by speech. We cannot use words without actually knowing the ideas that they stand for. Even though words signify only ideas immediately, they also are often referred secretly. First, they refer to ideas in other men’s minds, and it is necessary for understanding. Otherwise, the speaker and the hearer would speak two languages. Secondly, words also stand for the reality of things. However, the use of words is abused if we used them to stand for anything else but the ideas of our own minds. Since words signify the ideas in men’s minds immediately. In constant use, when the others hear words, they readily accustomed to bring forth their
The connection between words and ideas are not natural but voluntary imposition and arbitrary. The ideas that words stand for are their proper and immediate signification. No matter how imperfectly or carelessly those ideas are collected from the things that they are supposed to represent, words are the immediate signification of nothing but the ideas in the mind of him that uses them. In order for the ideas to be understood, they need to be conveyed by speech. We cannot use words without actually knowing the ideas that they stand for. Even though words signify only ideas immediately, they also are often referred secretly. First, they refer to ideas in other men’s minds, and it is necessary for understanding. Otherwise, the speaker and the hearer would speak two languages. Secondly, words also stand for the reality of things. However, the use of words is abused if we used them to stand for anything else but the ideas of our own minds. Since words signify the ideas in men’s minds immediately. In constant use, when the others hear words, they readily accustomed to bring forth their