Franz Boas, a groundbreaking figure in American anthropology and linguistics, and Ruth Benedict, a key cultural anthropologist, delve into the fascinating dawn of American linguistics. They discuss Boas's transformative approach to documenting indigenous languages and his challenge to evolutionary frameworks of his time. The dialogue also highlights the clash of phonologies, examining Boas’s critiques of earlier anthropologists and his pivotal contributions to understanding sounds across cultures. Their insights illuminate the lasting legacy of Boas and his students in language sciences.
In this episode, we begin our exploration of American linguistics by looking at the innovative contributions of Franz Boas (1858–1942) and his circle of students.
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History and Philosophy of the Language Sciences 