Sprachspiel

Sprachspiel, or language game, is a central concept in the philosophy of language introduced by Ludwig Wittgenstein and elaborated in his later work, notably Philosophical Investigations. It describes the varied, context-dependent practices through which words acquire meaning. Far from a fixed dictionary, a language is a network of activities—telling jokes, giving orders, describing objects, asking questions, or making bets—each with its own standards of correctness.

Key ideas include that meaning is derived from use within a form of life; rules are not merely explicit prescriptions but embodied norms learned through participation. Different activities constitute different language games; their criteria for proper use may conflict, overlap, or evolve as practices change. The notion of forms of life links language to human life, culture, and social activity, suggesting that understanding a term requires grasping its role in a particular life-activity.

Sprachspiele are used to address the problem of private language. Wittgenstein argues that a privately developed language, by lacking public criteria for correctness, cannot be genuinely meaningful; language acquires sense through public criteria and shared practice.

The concept has influenced contemporary philosophy of language, linguistics, anthropology, and cognitive science, where it helps explain how meanings arise from community practices rather than from intrinsic properties of words.