Podcast episode 1: Pre-history of comparative-historical linguistics
Dec 30, 2019
Discover the fascinating pre-history of comparative-historical grammar, tracing its roots in modern linguistics. Learn about the monumental shift in the 19th century as scholars like Sir William Jones and Friedrich Schlegel transformed linguistic study into a scientific endeavor. Delve into the philosophical underpinnings of language meaning, highlighting insights from thinkers such as John Locke and Leibniz. This exploration reveals how early efforts laid the groundwork for understanding language connections across cultures.
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insights INSIGHT
Scientific Linguistics
Linguistics has a standard history, where the genealogical approach is considered the first truly scientific study of language.
This 'scientific' status, sweeping away prior work, is a recurring motif in the human sciences.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Sir William Jones and the Philologer Passage
Sir William Jones, a British Orientalist, is considered a key figure in the history of linguistics.
His "Philologer Passage" is often cited as prefiguring comparative historical grammar.
insights INSIGHT
Jones's Insight
Jones's "Philologer Passage" identifies similarities in verb roots and grammatical forms across languages, attributing them to a common ancestor.
This passage reflects the fundamental elements of later comparative historical grammar.
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In 'Orientalism,' Edward Said critiques the Western construction of the Orient as a place of mystery and exoticism. He argues that Orientalism, as a discipline and worldview, is inherently tied to European imperialism and serves as a powerful instrument of domination. Said examines how Western literature, academia, and politics have perpetuated colonialism and imperialism by creating and reinforcing stereotypes and myths about the East. He traces the development of Orientalism from its roots in the 18th century to its contemporary implications, emphasizing the intimate relationship between knowledge and power and the need to challenge these dominant discourses[1][3][5].
Genesis
Artificial Intelligence, Hope, and the Human Spirit
Craig Mundie
Eric Schmidt
Henry A. Kissinger
In this book, Henry A. Kissinger, Eric Schmidt, and Craig Mundie explore the epochal challenges and opportunities presented by the revolution in Artificial Intelligence. AI is seen as a force that can address enormous crises such as climate change, geopolitical conflicts, and income inequality, while also posing significant challenges to human judgment, divine relationships, and potentially spurring a new phase in human evolution. The authors chart a course between blind faith and unjustified fear, offering an accessible guide to how AI will shape civilization in the modern era.
Über die Sprache und Weisheit der Indier
Über die Sprache und Weisheit der Indier
Friedrich Von Schlegel
Mithridate/Mithridates
Mithridate/Mithridates
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Konrad Gessner
Konrad Gessner's "Mithridates" (1555) is a pioneering work in the field of comparative linguistics. It aimed to survey the world's languages, showcasing their diversity and attempting to identify relationships between them. While lacking the sophisticated methodologies of later comparative linguistics, it represents a significant early attempt to understand the world's languages. The book's title, referencing the ancient king Mithridates, highlights the ambition to encompass a vast linguistic landscape. It serves as a precursor to later, more systematic comparative studies.
Aryans and British India
Thomas R. Trautmann
Thomas Trautmann's "Aryans and British India" explores the history of Aryan studies within the context of British colonialism in India. It examines how the concept of the Aryans was used and manipulated to justify colonial rule and shape perceptions of Indian society. The book delves into the scholarly debates and controversies surrounding Aryan origins and their relationship to Indian culture. It provides a critical perspective on the historical development of Aryan studies and its implications for understanding the relationship between India and the West. Trautmann's work offers valuable insights into the complexities of historical scholarship and its entanglement with political power.
Geschichte der Sprachwissenschaft und orientalischen Philologie in Deutschland seit dem Anfange des 19. Jahrhunderts mit einem Rückblick auf die früheren Zeiten
Geschichte der Sprachwissenschaft und orientalischen Philologie in Deutschland seit dem Anfange des 19. Jahrhunderts mit einem Rückblick auf die früheren Zeiten
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Theodor Benfey
Theodor Benfey's "History of Linguistics" is a seminal work that chronicles the development of the field in Germany during the 19th century. It examines the shift from traditional approaches to a more scientific methodology, highlighting key figures and their contributions. The book emphasizes the revolutionary impact of comparative historical grammar on the study of language. It also discusses the emergence of linguistics as a distinct academic discipline. Benfey's work remains a valuable resource for understanding the historical context of modern linguistics.
The Third Anniversary Discourse, on the Hindus
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Sir William Jones
Sir William Jones's "Third Anniversary Discourse" is a landmark work in linguistics, delivered in 1786. It's famous for its insightful comparison of Sanskrit, Greek, and Latin, highlighting striking similarities in grammar and vocabulary. This observation led Jones to propose the existence of a common ancestor, laying the groundwork for the Indo-European language family hypothesis. The discourse is considered a foundational text in comparative historical linguistics. Its impact on the development of the field is immeasurable.
Mithridates, oder allgemeine Sprachenkunde
Mithridates, oder allgemeine Sprachenkunde
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Johann Christoph Adelung
Johann Severin Vater
Adelung and Vater's "Mithridates" is a monumental work of comparative linguistics, published in four volumes between 1806 and 1817. It presents a vast collection of the world's languages, including translations of the Lord's Prayer and ethnographic information. The work represents a significant effort to document linguistic diversity and explore language relationships. It stands as a testament to the early stages of comparative linguistics and its ambition to understand the world's languages. Its comprehensive scope and meticulous detail make it a valuable resource for historical linguistic research.
The first series of the History and Philosophy of the Language Sciences Podcast looks at the history of modern linguistics. We begin in this episode by examining the pre-history of comparative-historical grammar.
Gessner, Conrad (2009 [1555]), Mithridate/Mithridates, ed. and trans. Bernard Colombat and Manfred Peters, Geneva: Librairie Droz.
Jones, William (1807 [1786]), The Third Anniversary Discourse, on the Hindus. The Works of Sir William Jones, ed. Lord Teignmouth, vol. III, pp. 24–46. London: Stockdale and Walker. Google Books
Jones, William (1807 [1792]), The Ninth Anniversary Discourse, on the Origin and Families of Nations. The Works of Sir William Jones, ed. Lord Teignmouth, vol. III, pp. 185–204. London: Stockdale and Walker. Google Books
Schlegel, Friedrich (1808), Ueber die Sprache und Weisheit der Indier, Heidelberg: Mohr und Zimmer. archive.org (English trans. ‘On the Indian Language, Literature and Philosophy’ [1900], The Æsthetic and Miscellaneous Works of Friedrich von Schlegel, ed. and trans. E. J. Millington, pp. 425–536, London: George Bell and Sons. archive.org)
Secondary Sources
Aarsleff, Hans (1982), From Locke to Saussure: Essays on the study of language and intellectual history, Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press. See ‘Introduction’, Chaps. 1 and 2.
Benfey, Theodor (1869), Geschichte der Sprachwissenschaft und orientalischen Philologie in Deutschland, seit dem Anfange des 19. Jahrhunderts mit einem Rückblick auf die früheren Zeiten, Munich: Cotta’sche Buchhandlung. archive.org
Morpurgo Davies, Anna (1998), History of Linguistics, vol. 4: Nineteenth-century Linguistics, London: Longman. See Chaps. 2 and 3.
Rudwick, Martin J. S. (2005), Bursting the Limits of Time: The reconstruction of geohistory in the age of revolution, Chicago: University of Chicago Press. See Chaps. 6 and 7.
Saïd, Edward (2003 [1978]), Orientalism, London: Penguin Books.
Trautmann, Thomas (1997), Aryans and British India, Berkeley: University of California Press.
History and Philosophy of the Language Sciences 
