the picture theory of meaning

The picture theory of meaning, proposed by philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein, suggests that language signifies things by creating mental images or representations that mirror reality. Essentially, words and sentences serve as pictures or models of how objects, events, or states of affairs are structured in the real world. When we use language, we're manipulating these mental images to communicate ideas, describe scenes, or convey information. This theory emphasizes that meaning arises from the correspondence between language and the actual facts or situations it describes, helping us understand how words connect to the world around us.