Phil. of Language·Course
Philosophy of Language
Frege, Wittgenstein, speech act theory, structuralism and discourse
Part of the Humanities track — finish it for a verifiable diploma →
§ 01 — Orientation
New here?
What you'll be able to do, who this is for, how long it takes, and where to begin.
By the end, you will be able to
- 01Ask what meaning actually is.
- 02Understand how words do things (speech acts).
- 03Analyze the structure of language.
- 04See how language carries power.
- 05Reason clearly about reference and truth.
Who this is for
How long it takes
- Quick orientationSkim the opening module and the cheatsheet to get the shape of it.~2 h
- Full read-throughRead every article once, in order.~2 h
- Mastery pathRead, take the quizzes, and space out your reviews.~2 weeks
- APA
Stoa. (2026). Philosophy of Language [Online course]. Stoa. https://stoa.school/course/philosophy-of-language
- MLA
Stoa. “Philosophy of Language.” Stoa, 2026, https://stoa.school/course/philosophy-of-language.
- Chicago
Stoa. “Philosophy of Language.” Stoa. Accessed August 31, 2026. https://stoa.school/course/philosophy-of-language.
§ 02 — Curriculum
8 modules.
Each module is a small unit. Most read in sequence — but a determined reader can begin anywhere.
- M ILanguage, Meaning, and RealityHow language relates to reality and what it means to “have meaning”3 articles
18 minBegin → - M IILanguage, Thought, and SocietyThe linguistic turn, discourse, and cognitive linguistics3 articles
18 minBegin → - M IIIPragmatics and CommunicationHow context, intention, and speech conventions shape meaning in real-life communication3 articles
18 minBegin → - M IVLanguage, Identity, and the FutureBilingualism, endangered languages, language and AI3 articles
18 minBegin → - M VLinguistic Relativity and Cognitive LinguisticsSapir–Whorf, Lakoff, and language as a tool of thought3 articles
18 minBegin → - M VILanguage, Power, and Social IdentityFoucault, Bourdieu, and language as a field of struggle3 articles
18 minBegin → - M VIITranslation, Intercultural Communication, and Loss in TranslationUntranslatability, cultural concepts, and negotiating across boundaries3 articles
18 minBegin → - M VIIIDigital Language and the Future of CommunicationInternet language, NLP, and language in the age of AI3 articles
18 minBegin →
§ 03 — Learning outcomes
4 outcomes.
Understand key concepts of meaning, sense, and reference.
Analyze the performative aspects of language and speech act theory.
Understand structuralist approaches to language and their implications.
Apply critical discourse analysis to political and cultural texts.
§ 04 — Practices