Conocimiento práctico y conocimiento del lenguaje

In order to clarify the kind of knowledge that language requires, this paper examines the apparent conflict between two Fregean contributions: first, the priority of the communicative role of language and second, a theory of meaning that seems to embrace the kind of psychologism rejected by Frege. The article defends that language is a tool for communication rather than a vehicle of thought, examines Frege’s theory of meaning in connection with the notions of “linguistic act,” “phrase,” “sense,” and “force,” and holds that language speakers need both practical skill (know-how) and implicit knowledge of linguistic rules.