The History of General and Comparative Linguistics in 19th Century Russia
The article attempts to demonstrate how problems in general and historical-comparative linguistics were worked out and developed during the 19th century in Russia. Largely following the tradition established by 18th-century Russian scholars, especially M. V. Lomonosov (1711–65), who is regarded as the founder of Russian linguistics, 19th-century linguists displayed a lively interest in investigating the social nature of language. Other key interests of these scholars were the study of the systematic character of language, the development of the phonemic principle (including the distinctive feature concept), the typological study of related and unrelated languages, etc. It is shown that their work generally mirrored the intellectual trends of their period, with biologistic views giving way to sociological and psychological ones, as is evident in the work of N. I. Greč, A. X. Vostokov, A. A. Potebnja, J. Baudouin de Courtenay, F. F. Fortuna-tov, and many others. The intellectual climate of 19th-century Europe allowed for a free exchange of scientific information; thus, in its earlier stages, the Russian scientific scene was sometimes influenced by ideas from the West, whereas it can be said that Russian scholars working in linguistics paid back toward the end of the 19th and in the earlier 20th centuries by furthering research leading to a structural concept of language, the study of morphophonology, typology and language universals as is evident in the theories advanced by members of the Prague and Copenhagen schools.
References
I have included, in addition to items referred to in the text, bibliographical data in an effort to show the vast scope of work on the history of linguistics carried out in the Soviet Union in the hope that Western scholars may find them useful.
Baudouin de Courtenay, I(van) A(leksandrovič) (= Jan Ignacy Niecisɫaw
.
1845–1929) 1963
Izbrannye trudy po obščemu jazykoznaniju (
Collected Works on General Linguistics). Ed. by
S. G. Barxudarov et al. 21 vols. Moscow: Akad. Nauk.
Belinskij, V(issarion) G(rigor’evič
.
1811–48) 1837
Osnovanija russkoi grammatiku dlja pervonacal’nogo obučenija (
Foundations of Russian Grammar for Elementary Study). St. Petersburg.
Berezin, F(jodor) M(ixajlovič)
1968 Očerki po istorii jazykoznanija v Rossii (konec XIX – načalo XX v.). (
Sketches in the History of Linguistics in Russia (end 19th – beginning 20th century)). Moscow: Nauka.
Berezin, F(jodor) M(ixajlovič)
1973 Xrestomatija po istorii russkogo jazykoznanija (
Chrestomathy in the history of Russian linguistics). Moscow: Vysšaya škola. (2nd ed. 1976.) [Cf. T. M. S. Priestly’s review article in
HL 4:1.69–88 (1977).]
Berezin, F(jodor) M(ixajlovič)
1974 “
Russkoje teoreticeskoe jazykoznanie v Akademii Nauk (Russian Theoretical Linguistics in the Akademy of Sciences).
VJa 23:3.14–26.
Berezin, F(jodor) M(ixajlovič)
1975 htorija lingvističeskix učenij (
History of Linguistic Studies). Moscow: Vysšaya škola.
Berezin, F(jodor) M(ixajlovič)
1976 Russkoe jazykoznanie konca XIX-načala XX v. (
Russian Linguistics of the End of the 19th and Beginning of the 20th centuries). Moscow: Nauka. [Cf. J. Boyadjiev’s review in
HL 4:3.388–91 (1977).]
Berezin, F(jodor) M(ixajlovič)
1979 Itorija russkogo jazykoznanija (
The History of Russian Linguistics). Moscow: Vysšaya škola.
Berezin, F(jodor) M(ixajlovič), and B(oris) N(ikolaevič) Golovin
1979 Obščee jazykoznanie (
General Linguistics). Moscow: Prosveščenie.
Bogorodickij, V(asilij) A(lekseevič
1857–1941) 1890
Einige Reformvorschläge auf dem Gebiete der vergleichenden Grammatik der indo-europäischen Sprachen. Kazan: Universitätsverlag.
Bogorodickij, V(asilij) A(lekseevič
1857–1941) 1915
Leckit po obščemu jazykovedeniju (
Lectures on general linguistics). Kazan: Tipo-Litografia Imp. univ.
Brückner, A(lexander
1856–1939) 1917 “
Slawisch Litauisch.”
Geschichte der Indogermanischen Sprachwissenschaft ed. by
Wilhelm Streitberg, vol. III1, 1–107. Berlin & Leipzig: W. de Gruyter.
Bulaxov, M(ixail) G(apeevič)
1976 Vostočnoslavjanskie jazykovedy: Biobibliografičeskij slovar’ (
East Slavic linguists: A biobibliographical dictionary). Minsk: Izd-vo BGU im. V. I. Lenina. [Tome I: A-Z (XVI – the end of the XlXth century) – cf.
HL 3:3.385–86 (1976); Tome II: A-K – cf.
HL 5:1/2.207–08 (1978), Tome III: L-Z (the end of the 19th to the 70s of the 20th century –
cf.HL 5:3.355 (1978).]
Buslaev, F(edor) I(vanovič
1818–97) 1858
Istoričeskaja grammatika russkogo jazyka (
Historical Grammar of Russian). Moscow: Izd. Moskovskogo Univ.
Buslaev, F(edor) I(vanovič
1818–97) 1844
O prepodavanii rodnogo jazyka (
On teaching the native language). Moscow: Izd. Moskovskogo Univ.
Collinder, B(jörn)
1962 Les origines du structuralisme. (=
Acta Universatis Uppsaliensis; Nova series, 1.) Stockholm & Uppsala: Almqvist & Wikseil.
Cerepanov, M(ixail) V(asil’evič)
1967 Kazanskaja linguističeskaja škola (
The linguistic school of Kazan). (=
Uč. zapiski leningradskogo pedagogočeskogo instituta im. A. I. Gercena, No. 354.) Leningrad: Izd-vo Leningrad, gos. ped.instituta.
Fortunatov, F(ilip) F(edorovič
1848–1914) 1956
Izbrannye trudy (
Collected Works). 21 vols. Moscow: Akad. Nauk.
Grekov, B(oris) D(mitr’evič
1882–1953), ed. 1948
Dokumenty k istorii slavjanovedenija v Rossii (1850–1912) (
Documents for the history of Slavistics in Russia (1850–1912)) Moscow: Akad. Nauk.
Godel, Robert
1957 Les Sources manuscrites du Cours de linguistique générale de F. de Saussure. Geneva. Droz.
Greč, N(ikolai) I(vanovič
1787–1867) 1827
Praktčeskaja russkaja grammatika (
Practical Russian Grammar). St. Petersburg.
Häusler, Frank
1968 Das Problem Phonetik und Phonologie bei Baudouin de Courtenay und in seiner Nachfolge. Halle: Niemeyer.
Hjelmslev, Louis
(1899–1965). 1928 Principes de grammaire générale. Copenhagen: F. A. Høst.
Jakob, Ljudvig Genrix (= Ludwig Heinrich
1759–1827) 1812
Načertanie vseoščeij grammatiki dlja gimnazij Rossijskoi imperii sočinennoe (
Sketch of a general grammar, composed for grammar schools of the Russian Empire). St. Petersburg: Imp. Akad. Nauk.
Kacnel’son, S(olomon) D(avidovič)
1954 “
Teorija sonantov F.F. Fortunatova i ee značenie v svete sovremennyx dannyx (F. F. Fortunatov’s Theory of Sonants and its importance in the light of modern data).”
VJa No. 61.47–61.
Katkov, M(ixail) N(ikiforovič
1818–87) 1845
Ob elementax i formax slavjanorusskogo jazyka (
On the elements and forms of the Slav-Russian language). Moscow: Izd. Moskovskogo Univ.
Korš, F(edor) E(vgen’evič
1843–1915) 1877
Sposoby otnositel’nogo podčinenija: Glava iz sravnitel’nogo sintaxisa (
Means of relative subordination: A chapter from comparative syntax). Moscow: Izd. Moskovskogo Univ.
Kruszewski, N(ikolai) V(jačeslavovič) (= Mikoɫaj Habdank
1851–87) 1883
Očerk nauki o jazyke (
Sketches of the Science of Language). Kazan: Izd. Imp. Univ.
Kuryɫbwicz, J(erzy
1895–1978) 1960
Esquisses linguistiques. Wrocɫaw & Krakow: Ossolineum.
Lebedeff, G(erasim) S(tepanovič
1749–1820) 1801
A Grammar of the Pure and Mixed Dialects, spoken in all the eastern countries. Methodologically arranged at Calcutta, according to the Brahmenian system, of the Shamscrit language. London: J. S.Kirven.
Loja, J(an) V(iljumovič
1896–1969) 1968
Istorija lingvističeskix učenij (
History of Linguistic Studies). Moscow: Vysšaja škola.
Lomonosov, M(ixail) V(asil’evič
1711–65) 1755
Rossijskaja Grammatika (
Russian Grammar.) (Repr. in
Polnoe sobranie socinenij (
Complete Collection of Works). Moscow & Leningrad: Nauka 1952.)
Meillet, Antoine
(1866–1936). 1930 [
Obituary of Baudouin de Courtenay].
Revue des études slaves 10:1/2.
Meščaninov, I(van) I(vanovič
1883–1967) 1949
Kistorii otečestvennogo jazykoznanija (
Towards a history of native linguistics). Moscow: Učebno-pedagogičeskoe izd-vo.
Meščerskij, N(ikita) A(leksandrovič)
ed. 1971 Russkoe jazykoznanie v Peter-burgskom-Leningradskom universitete (
Russian Linguistics at the St. Petersburg-Leningrad University). Leningrad: Izd-vo LGU.
Obnorskij, S(ergei) P(etrovič
1888–1962), ed. 1947
A. A. Šaxmatov (1864–1920). Moscow & Leningrad: Akad. Nauk.
Ornatovskij, I(van)
(? – ?). 1811 Noveijšee načertanie pravil rossijskoj grammatiki, na načalax vseoščej osnovannyx (
The newest account of the rules of the Russian grammar, composed on those of a general grammar). Xarkov: Izd. Univ.
Pavskij, G(erasim) P(etrovič
1787–1863) 1841–42
Filologičeskie nabljudenija nad sostavom russkogo jazyka (
Philological observations on the structure of the Russian language). St. Petersburg: Tip. Imp. Akad. Nauk.
Pokrovskij, M(ixail) M(ixajlovič
1869–1942) 1895
O važnosti sravnitel’nogo jazykoznanija dlja classičeskoj filologii (
On the importance of comparative linguistics for classic philology). Moscow.
Pokrovskij, M(ixail) M(ixajlovič
1869–1942) 1896
O metodax semasiologii (
On the methods in semasiology). Moscow.
Potebnja, A(leksandr) A(fanasjevič
1835–91) 1862
Mysli jazyk (
Thought and Language). St. Petersburg: Tip. Ogrizko.
Potebnja, A(leksandr) A(fanasjevič
1835–91) 1872
Iz zapisokpo Russkoi grammatike (
Memoirs on Russian grammar). Xarkov: Tip. Universiteta.
Radiščev, A(leksandr) N(ikolaevič
1749–1802) 1792
O čeloveke, o jego smert-nosti i bessmertii (
On man, on his death and immortality). Repr. in Collected Works on Philosophy, Moscow: Gos. učebno-pedagog. izd-vo 1949.)
Rižskij, I(van) S(tepanovič
1761–1811) 1806
Vvedenie v krug slovesnosti (
Introduction to the field of philology). Xarkov: Imp. Akad. Nauk.
Rudelev, V(ladimir) G(eorgievič)
ed. 1975 Russkie jazykovedy (
Russian Linguists). Tambov: Gos. ped. institute. [Cf.
HL 3:1.150 (1976).]
Ruszkiewicz, P(iotr)
1973 “
Baudouin de Courtenay and the Theory of Distinctive Features”.
BFon 141.91–99.
Smirnov, S(avvatij) V(asil’evič)
1971 F. I. Buslaev i russkoe jazykoznanie pervoj poloviny XIX v. (
F. I. Buslaev and Russian linguistics of the first half of the 19th century). (=
Uč. zapiski Tartusskogo universiteta, vypusk 279.) Tartu: Izd. univ.
Sommerfelt, A(lf)
(1892–1965). 1961 “
The French School of Linguistics”.
Trends in European and American Linguistics ed. by
Christine Mohrmann et al., 283–93. Utrecht & Antwerp: Spectrum.
Sreznevskij, I(smail) I(vanovič
1812–80) 1850
Mysli ob istorü russkogo jazyka (
Thoughts on the history of the Russian language). St. Petersburg.
Stieber, Z.
1955 “
Teorija fonem Boduena de Kurtene v sovremennom jazy-koznanii (Baudouin de Courtenay’s theory of phonemes in modern linguistics).”
VJa 41:89–93.
Šaxmatov, A(leksei) A(lexandrovič
1864–1920) 1925
Syntaksis russkogo jazyka (
Syntax of Russian). Moscow: Akad. Nauk.
Šercl, V(ikentij) I(vanovič
1843–1906) 1884
O slovax s protivopoložnym značeniem (
On words with opposite meaning). Voronež.
Schuchardt, H(ugo
1842–1927) 1925 “
Der Individualismus in der Sprachforschung”.
Akad. d. Wissenschaften in Wien; Philosophisch-historische Klasse, Sitzungberichte 2041. Bd.21. Abhandl. 11.1–24.
Ščerba, L(ev) V(ladimirovič
1880–1944) 1963 “
F. F. Fortunatov v istorii nauki o jazyke”.
VJa 12:5.89–93. [Transl, by
T. M. S. Priestly, “
F. F. Fortunatovin the History of the Science of Language”,
HL 3:1.129–39 (1976).]
Ščerba, L(ev) V(ladimirovič
1880–1944) 1930 “
I A. Boduèn de Kurtenè i ego značenie v nauke o jazyke (J. I. Baudouin de Courtenay and his importance in the science of language)”. (Published in L. V. Scerba,
Izbrannye trudy po russkomu jazyku, Moscow: Prosveščenie 1957.)
Timkovskij, I(l’ja) F(edorovič
1772–1853) 1811
Opytnij sposob k filosofi-českomu poznaniju russkogo jazyka (
An experimental way to the philosophical study of Russian). St. Petersburg.
Vinogradov, V(iktor) V(ladimirovič
1895–1969) 1975
Izbrannye trudy: Issledovanija po russkoi grammatike (
Collected works: Studies in Russian grammar). Moscow: Nauka.
Vinogradov, V(iktor) V(ladimirovič
1895–1969) 1958
Iz istorii izučenija russkogo sintaksisa (ot Lomonosova do Potebni i Fortunatova) (
From the History of the Study of Russian Syntax. From Lomonosov to Potebnja and Fortunatov). Moscow: Izd. Moskovskogo Univ.
Vinogradov, V(iktor) V(ladimirovič
1895–1969) ed. 1963
Pis’ma I. V. Jagiča k russkim učenym (1865–1886) (
V. Jagič’s letters to Russian scientists (1865–1886)). Moscow & Leningrad: Akad. Nauk.
Vostokov, A(leksandr) X(ristoforovič
1781–1864) 1820
Rassuždenie o slav-janskom jazyke, služaščee vvedeniem k grammatike sego jazyka, sostavljaemoj po drevnejšim onogo pis’mennym pamjatnikam (
Discourse on the Slavic language, serving as an introduction to the grammar of this language composed according to the oldest written monuments of the same). St. Petersburg: Trudy obščestva ljub’it’el’ei rossijskoi slovesnosti.
Zeleneckij, K(onstantin) P(etrovič
1812–58) 1841
Sistema u soderžanie philo-sofskogo jazykočenija primenitel’no k russkomu jazyku (
System and contents of philosophical linguistics with special reference to Russian). St. Petersburg: Tip. Rossijskoi Akademii.
Zinder, L(ev) R(afailovtč)
1960 “
Kistorii fonetiki v Rossii (Towards a history of phonetics in Russia).
Voprosy fonetiki 21. (=
Uč. zapiski Leningradskogo universiteta, No. 237, serija fil. nauk, vypusk 40), 5–25. Leningrad: Izd. Leningradskogo Univ.
Cited by
Cited by 1 other publications
This list is based on CrossRef data as of 30 april 2024. Please note that it may not be complete. Sources presented here have been supplied by the respective publishers.
Any errors therein should be reported to them.