From Mind to Language: A Genealogy of John Locke's Linguistic Theory and the Challenges of Its Interpretation

The relationship between language and reality, the role of language in thought, and the structure and function of language have been topics of interest in philosophy since ancient times. These topics became central to the study of psychology and linguistics in the 17th and 18th centuries. This paper examines the interplay between language and mind in Locke's thought, focusing on traditional and modern interpretations of his views. By examining Locke's epistemological and linguistic ideas, especially in his books "An Essay Concerning Human Understanding" and "Some Thoughts Concerning Education," we conclude that he proposes a theory of language as a system of codes. He considers words to be symbols of mental concepts and language to be a mirror of culture. Due to its complexity, subtlety, the diversity of philosophical and ideological presuppositions, historical developments in philosophy and linguistics, and ultimately the ambiguity in Locke's writing, this view has been interpreted in four different ways: traditional, structuralist, pragmatic, and feminist. This paper examines and critiques these four approaches, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses. It aims to present a philosophical explanation of Locke's linguistic theory, free from political, social, ideological, and feminist controversies.