Popular-consciousness language cannot reveal underlying causes of social trends

Evidence

Many important distinctions, which are not immediately obvious, between types of social situation or relationships may best be brought to light by an examination of the standard uses of the relevant expressions and of the way in which these depend on a social context, itself often left unstated. In this field of study it is particularly true that we may use, as Professor J. L. Austin said, ‘a sharpened awareness of words to sharpen our perception of the phenomena’. — HLA Hart, The Concept of Law (Clarendon Law…, 23 (#complicates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Linguistic philosophy suppresses what speech reveals about the society that speaks it — Herbert Marcuse, One-Dimensional Man: Studies in the…, 652; Everyday speech conceals society’s domination over language as hidden meaning — Herbert Marcuse, One-Dimensional Man: Studies in the…, 669; Regime change drives repertoire change more than popular consciousness does (+4 more)

Broader Connections

• Everyday-language analysis alone cannot reveal the underlying causes of social trends #corroborates (0.96)
• Sharpened awareness of words sharpens perception of social phenomena. #complicates (0.76) — HLA Hart, The Concept of Law (Clarendon Law…, 23