Jody Azzouni, “Semantic Perception: How the Illusion of a Common Language Arises and Persists” (Oxford UP, 2013)
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What is the central thesis of Jody Azzouni’s book *Semantic Perception*?
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Welcome to the New Books and Philosophy Channel of the New Books Network. My name is Robert Talise, I'm professor of philosophy at Vanderbilt University. I co host the channel with Carrie Figter. She's associate professor of philosophy at the University of Iowa. Today, my guest is Professor Jodi Azuni. We'll be talking about his new book, Semantic Perception: How the Illusion of a Common Language Arises and Persists. Which is newly published with Oxford University Press. Jody is professor of philosophy at Tufts University. A common philosophical picture of language is Attempts to begin with the various kinds of communicative acts individuals perform by means of language. This view has it that communication proceeds largely by way of interpretation.
Where we hear the sounds others make and infer from those sounds the communicative intentions of speakers. On this view, communication is a highly deliberate affair. Involving complex mediating processes of inference and reasoning. In semantic perception, Jody Azuni argues for a different picture. In fact, Azuni argues that the more common picture actually misconstrues our experience as communicators. On Azuni's alternative, we involuntarily perceive language items as public objects that have meaning properties independently of speaker intentions. Put differently, Azuni argues that meaning is perceived, not inferred. Much in the way that we perceive the properties of physical objects. And yet he also argues that our perception of there being a common language, such as English, which supplies the common vehicle for communication is
is a kind of inescapable collective illusion. What's more, Azuni argues that the view that a common language is an illusion makes better sense of our experiences and practices with language than its competitors. Semantic Perception is a fascinating and highly original book. Let's turn to the interview. Hello Jody Yazzuni.
Hi Rob.
How are you doing today?
I'm pretty good. I'm uh looking forward to this.
Oh good. I'm glad to hear that. Um thanks for joining us today on New Books in Philosophy.
Sure enough.
Great. Well today on New Books in Philosophy, my guest is Jody Azzuni. His new book is titled Semantic Perception. How the illusion of a common language arises and persists. It's just been published with Oxford University Press. And as the title suggests This book defends a surprising thesis. namely that language use induces a kind of collective illusion. Perhaps more surprising. Uh Azuni argues that his view Provides a better that's more faithful account of our experience of and our practices within. Language use. Um uh that is a a a more accurate rendering of our experience than competing views.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
What is the central thesis of Jody Azzouni’s book *Semantic Perception*?
0:00–7:15
2
How does Azzouni contrast the traditional “interpretation” view of language with his perception‑based account?
7:15–16:48
3
Why does Azzouni claim that meaning is perceived rather than inferred, like physical properties?
16:48–25:53
4
What role do jokes, puns, and other compartmentalized language phenomena play in his argument?
25:53–35:25
5
How does Azzouni critique the dominant Gricean/neo‑Gricean framework?
35:25–44:56
6
What empirical evidence and psychological experiments does he propose to test semantic perception?
44:56–51:12
7
What upcoming projects does Azzouni plan to explore after *Semantic Perception*?
51:12–58:22
8
How does the discussion conclude about the illusion of a common language and its philosophical significance?
58:22–1:07:26
Speakers
3 identifiedMore from New Books in Philosophy
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