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Podcast episode 17: Philipp Wegener and the beginnings of functionalism

History and Philosophy of the Language Sciences

CHAPTER

The Imperative Nature of Language: Wegener's Perspective on Communication

This chapter explores Wegener's view that language functions primarily to direct attention rather than just convey thoughts. It examines the evolution of language acquisition in children and relates Wegener's ideas to earlier sensationist theories and broader functional linguistic concepts.

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