Persons as psychophysical agents and communicators

Abstract

Observe a mother trying to teach her child her first language. She doesn’t just make noises with her tongue, lips and vocal chords; she utters words, makes sentences, asks questions, issues commands, hoping that the child will not only hear but also understand. In so doing, she is treating the child as a person, at least potentially. Becoming a person means entering into a community of speakers and listeners who use language as their specific mode of communication. By talking to people and trying to make myself understood, but also by listening to what they have to say, I treat them as persons. Observing their reactions, verbal or non-verbal, I can know more or less whether the message I am trying to convey has been successfully received. If I have doubts, I may ask for clarification. The other person may do the same, but our first aim must be to understand each other. There are many other things we might want to do, and hopefully achieve, on the basis of that.