CHAPTER 3 THEORIES USED AND DEFINITIONS Wittgenstein’s Language Games The basis of this project comes from one of my favorite communication theories the – “Language Game”. This theory was developed by Ludwig Wittgenstein in the 1930’s while researching his book Tractatus. He describes language games as series of activities”, those which make up language as a “a of life” (Grayling, P. 83). “form When logic is interwoven into the picture, he explains that is [not just] one logic but many “there different practices with its own logic” (Grayling, P. 87). As we will see individual attempts at finding a job fail because interviewers and recruiters the logic of our language” (Grayling, P. 79). “misunderstand This can be true when screening a resume and cover letter, conducting an interview or even right down to how we dress. Each language game has its own rule, which is defined as practice(s) established upon and “social agreed by members of a linguistic or community” (Grayling, P. 74). The job search, thus, has many different language games, each with their own set of rules. The job seeker who follows them best will ultimately be hired. In an earlier paper (Walsh, 2008); I called the language game Stupid Game”. George Lakoff tends “a to agree, calling language in his publication Power We Love to Hate” (2000). This can be very “The frustrating for both job seeker and recruiter alike, as both sides try to make their own meanings. While both sides claim to that right, it becomes a cause” (Lakoff, P. 20) of sorts, as a job seeker tries to “lost
CHAPTER 3 THEORIES USED AND DEFINITIONS Wittgenstein’s Language Games The basis of this project comes from one of my favorite communication theories – the “Language Game”. This theory was developed by Ludwig Wittgenstein in the 1930’s while researching his book Tractatus. He describes language games as “a series of activities”, those which make up language as a “form of life” (Grayling, P. 83). When logic is interwoven into the picture, he explains that “there is [not just] one logic but many different practices with its own logic” (Grayling, P. 87). As we will see individual attempts at finding a job fail because interviewers and recruiters “misunderstand the logic of our language” (Grayling, P. 79). This can be true when screening a resume and cover letter, conducting an interview or even right down to how we dress. Each language game has its own rule, which is defined as “social practice(s) established upon and agreed by members of a linguistic or community” (Grayling, P. 74). The job search, thus, has many different language games, each with their own set of rules. The job seeker who follows them best will ultimately be hired. In an earlier paper (Walsh, 2008); I called the language game “a Stupid Game”. George Lakoff tends to agree, calling language in his publication “The Power We Love to Hate” (2000). This can be very frustrating for both job seeker and recruiter alike, as both sides try to make their own meanings. While both sides claim to that right, it becomes a “lost cause” (Lakoff, P. 20) of sorts, as a job seeker tries to
To-Get-the-Job-You-Have-to-Play-the-Game.docx