Universal History of Linguistics

India, China, Arabia, Europe

Esa Itkonen | University of Turku, Finland

Hardbound – Available

ISBN 9789027245526 (Eur) | EUR 125.00

ISBN 9781556193606 (USA) | USD 188.00

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ISBN 9789027277671 | EUR 125.00 | USD 188.00

This wide-ranging book presents the linguistic achievements of four major cultures to readers presumably conversant with modern theoretical linguistics. The chapter on India discusses in detail Pāṇini's (c. 400 B.C.) grammar Ast-adhy-ay-i as well as the work of his commentators Kātyāyana, Patanjali, and Bhartṛhari. In the Chinese tradition, the Confucian doctrine of the Rectification of Names' is singled out for treatment. Arabic linguistics is represented by Sibawaihi's (d. 793) grammar al-Kitāb, in particular its syntax, as well as the subsequent commentary tradition. The chapter on Europe, which is the most comprehensive of the four, covers the time span from antiquity to the 20th century; special attention is devoted to the contributions of Plato, Aristotle, the Stoics, Varro, Apollonius Dyscolus, and the Modistae. The achievements of the cultures in linguistics are treated throughout from a deliberately value-laden point of view. The achievements of Western antiquity and the Middle Ages are shown to be much more than the average linguist is inclined to believe. Even more importantly, it is shown that the Indian and the Arab traditions have been superior to the European tradition at least until the 20th century. The fact that a linguistic theory created some 2,400 years ago is fully as adequate as our best theories today must have far-reaching implications for the notion of 'scientific progress'. More precisely, it proves necessary to distinguish between 'progress in the human sciences' and 'progress in the natural sciences'. These issues, which pertain to the general philosophy of science, are treated in the final chapter of the book.

[Studies in the History of the Language Sciences, 65] 1991. x, 368 pp.

Publishing status: Available
Published online on 3 October 2011

https://doi.org/10.1075/sihols.65

Table of Contents

1. Introduction | p. 1

2. India | p. 5

2.1 The Relation of Linguistic Theory to Hinduism
2.2 Linguistics before Pāṇini
2.3 Pāṇini
2.4 Linguistics after Pāṇini
2.5 Conclusion: Pāṇini and the Riddle of ‘Progress’
Notes

3. China | p. 89

3.1 Confucius
3.2 Mencius
3.3 The School of Names
3.4 The Taoist School
3.5 Mo Tzu and His School
3.6 Hsün Tzu
3.7 The Legalist School
3.8 The Aftermath
3.9 Conclusion: Pāṇini and Confucius
Notes

4. Arabia | p. 125

4.1 The Cultural Context of Arab Linguistics
4.2 General Characteristics of the Arab Linguistic Tradition
4.3 Central Aspects of the Arab Syntactic Theory
4.4 Metatheoretical Implications
4.5 Sībawaihi's Conception of ‘Discourse-Based’ Linguistics
4.6 Residual Issues
4.7 Conclusion: Pāṇini, Confucius, and Sībawaihi
Notes

5. Europe | p. 165

5.1 Linguistic Thinking in Greek Philosophy
5.2 The Alexandrian School
5.3 Linguistics in the Middle Ages
5.4 Grammatical Theory 1500–1900
5.5 The 20th Century
5.6 Conclusion: Unity in Variety
Notes

6. Implications for the Philosophy of Science | p. 325

6.1 The Notion of Progress
6.2 Relativism vs. Universalism
6.3 Externalism vs. Internalism
Notes

7. Conclusion | p. 347

Name Index | p. 363

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This list is based on CrossRef data as of 18 july 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.

Subjects

Linguistics

History of linguistics

Main BIC Subject

CF: Linguistics

Main BISAC Subject

LAN009000: LANGUAGE ARTS & DISCIPLINES / Linguistics / General

ONIX Metadata

ONIX 2.1

ONIX 3.0

U.S. Library of Congress Control Number: 91030574 | Marc record