Implications of Theories of Language for Information Systems

This article demonstrates how language views can be adopted into an information systems context and distinguishes here between five language views: denotational, generative, cognitive, behavioristic, and interactionist.

Abstract

The article demonstrates how language views can be adopted into an information systems context. We distinguish here between five language views: denotational, generative, cognitive, behavioristic, and interactionist. These views differ in their assumptions about the origin of linguistic behaviour, the primary functions of language, elements of language, and the nature of linguistic knowledge. Information system development approaches can be characterized by their underlying language views. This explains great differences in development methods and research. Thus, language views have implications and should be chosen contingently for a given information system context.