In "On the Way to Language," Martin Heidegger explores the fundamental role of language in human existence, emphasizing its unique capacity to disclose truth and shape our understanding of Being. This essay is a continuation of Heidegger’s ongoing inquiry into the nature of language, building on his previous works where language is described as the "house of Being."
Heidegger begins by questioning the conventional view of language as merely a tool for communication or a means of expressing thoughts. He argues that this instrumental view of language is limited because it reduces language to a function or a technique, neglecting its deeper, ontological significance. For Heidegger, language is not something we simply use; rather, it is something through which we experience and engage with the world. Language is the medium that reveals the world to us, allowing beings to appear as they truly are.
Central to Heidegger's exploration is the concept of Saying (Sagen), which he distinguishes from mere speaking or writing. Saying is an event in which language brings forth meaning, revealing the truth of Being. Heidegger argues that this act of Saying is what gives language its power and its unique role in human existence. It is through Saying that language unfolds its essence, enabling us to enter into a meaningful relationship with the world.
Heidegger also delves into the relationship between language and thought, asserting that language is not secondary to thought but rather co-constitutive of it. He challenges the traditional notion that thought precedes language, suggesting instead that thought and language arise together. Language, in this sense, is not merely a vehicle for expressing pre-existing ideas but is integral to the formation of thought itself. Heidegger proposes that we cannot think without language, as language provides the very structure through which thought becomes possible.
The essay further explores the idea that language is a path (Weg)—a way of reaching and understanding Being. Heidegger describes this path as one that is not linear or straightforward but rather complex and dynamic, involving a constant interplay between revealing and concealing. Language, according to Heidegger, always has the potential to both disclose and obscure truth. This duality is inherent in the nature of language, making it a powerful but also a potentially deceptive medium.
Heidegger is particularly concerned with how modern technological thinking has influenced our relationship with language. He argues that in the modern world, language is often reduced to mere information exchange, stripped of its deeper connection to Being. This reduction of language to a utilitarian function diminishes its ability to reveal the truth and undermines our capacity for genuine thought. Heidegger calls for a return to a more original experience of language, one that is rooted in a deep engagement with the world and with Being.
See also: The Role of Language in Heidegger’s Thought