Colin Gorrie: On Linguistic Reconstruction and the Value of Dead Languages
Jun 13, 2022
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Colin Gorrie, a linguist, discusses linguistic reconstruction and the value of dead languages. Topics include understanding ancient pronunciation, the revival of ancient languages, the shift towards communicative language teaching, and the field of reconstructing Proto Indo-European. Gorrie also introduces his upcoming salon series on learning Old English for beginners.
Language reconstruction provides valuable historical and cultural insights, shedding light on the past and helping us understand our linguistic heritage.
Learning ancient languages allows us to explore societies and cultures different from our own, broadening our perspectives and challenging presentism.
Approaching ancient languages through authentic texts and translations deepens our understanding of the language, its culture, and historical context.
Deep dives
Linguist's Role: Understanding Language in a Systematic Way
A linguist studies human language as part of the natural world, focusing on the rules that govern it. Linguists aim to describe these rules in a systematic and rigorous fashion. They analyze various aspects of language, such as grammar and phonology, and investigate linguistic behavior. By studying language, linguists gain insights into how the mind works and how we communicate.
Language Reconstruction: Unlocking the Past
Language reconstruction is a process that allows us to understand and reconstruct ancient languages that are no longer spoken. Although recording devices did not exist in ancient times, linguists use various sources of evidence to reconstruct the phonology, grammar, and vocabulary of these languages. They analyze texts, study written traditions, and compare related languages to piece together a picture of how ancient languages were spoken. Language reconstruction provides valuable historical and cultural insights, shedding light on the past and helping us understand our linguistic heritage.
Learning Ancient Languages: Window into History and Literature
Learning ancient languages, such as Old English, offers a unique window into history, culture, and literature. It allows us to explore societies and cultures different from our own, broadening our perspectives and challenging presentism. By studying texts in their original language, we gain direct access to great works of literature and poetry, connecting us to the past and deepening our understanding of language development. Additionally, learning ancient languages provides valuable insights into the history of the language itself, tracing the roots and evolution of our modern languages.
Approaching Ancient Languages: Using Authentic Texts and Translations
When approaching ancient languages, a valuable approach involves using authentic texts and translations as a means of making form-meaning connections. Comparing different translations and studying bilingual texts allows us to explore the nuances and richness of these languages. It's important to rely on translations by qualified translators while also engaging with the texts directly to grasp the original language's specific features. This approach enables a deeper understanding of the language, its culture, and its historical context.
The Promise of Proto-Indo-European Reconstruction
Proto-Indo-European reconstruction is an ongoing field of research that aims to reconstruct the ancestral language of the Indo-European language family. Despite challenges, such as limited evidence, the field continues to thrive. The naturalness of reconstructions is a significant point of contention. However, typological arguments against reconstructions do not hold up convincingly due to the vast range of linguistic diversity and the incomplete knowledge of extinct languages. Proto-Indo-European reconstruction provides insights into the history of languages and their evolution, fostering a deeper understanding of language families and shared linguistic heritage.
In this episode, podcast host Linus Lu talks with Colin Gorrie about what a linguist does, how language reconstruction works, what dead languages can teach us about history and society, as well as about Colin’s upcoming salon series titled Baby Steps to Beowulf: Old English for Beginners.
