Linguistic meaning is not fixed but contingent on usage from "summary" of Philosophical Investigations by Ludwig Wittgenstein
The meaning of a word is not something that is inherent in the word itself, but rather is dependent on how it is used in a given context. This means that linguistic meaning is not something fixed and static, but is instead shaped by the ways in which people employ language in their everyday lives. When we use a word, we do not do so in isolation, but rather within a web of social practices and conventions. The meaning of a word is thus contingent on the context in which it is used, as well as the intentions and beliefs of the individuals involved in the linguistic exchange. Words do not have a single, unchanging meaning, but rather can take on different meanings depending on the circumstances. This is because the meaning of a word is not something that is inherent in the word itself, but rather is constructed in the act of communication between individuals. For Wittgenstein, language is not a static set of symbols with fixed meanings, but rather a dynamic and fluid system that is constantly evolving and changing. The meaning of a word is contingent on its usage, and as such can vary from one context to another. It is important to understand that linguistic meaning is not something that exists independently of the ways in which it is used. Rather, meaning is something that emerges out of the interactions between individuals who are engaged in linguistic communication. As such, the meaning of a word is not fixed, but is contingent on the particular social and cultural practices in which it is embedded.
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