What is Wittgenstein really referring to with language games?

 "The language-game sustains all knowledge without being knowledge itself."

This quote sheds some light on Wittgenstein's concept of language games. A language game is not the content of a message but the form, custom or tradition of language use (or language practice) in which the utterance takes place.

For instance, prayer may be a language game even though each individual prayer is distinct and will have its own intention and message to unravel.

“Following a rule, making a report, giving an order, and so on, are customs, uses, practices or institutions.” (Phillips, 1977, p 36)

It is the practice of prayer, of storytelling, of meditation, of artistic representation, of lectures that provide a forum for the particular instances to make sense.

That is where I will leave this thought ....