Wittgenstein: analogues of language

Abstract

The paper explores one of the most important analogues of language in the later work of Wittgenstein, the comparison of language with tools. It explains first the comparative method used by Wittgenstein in his investigations of linguistic usage. Then it analyzes the chief aspects and results of the comparison with tools. The paper criticizes, among others, R. Bubner's objections against comparing language with tools and proceeds to contrast this term of comparison with other employed by Wittgenstein in the study of language.