Landmarks in Linguistic Thought

by Harris, Roy; Taylor, Talbot J.

• ISBN13: 9780415002912
• ISBN10: 0415002915
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1989-05-01
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

By introducing the reader to the major issues and themes that have determined the development of the Western linguistic tradition, an evolution of linguistic thought quickly becomes apparent. Each chapter in this accessible book contains a short extract from a "landmark" text followed by a commentary which places the text in its social and intellectual context. The authors, who consider writers from Aristotle to Caxton to Saussure, have fully revised the original edition of this text. Complete with two new chapters on Bishop John Wilkins and Frege, a revised preface and updated bibliography, this book will be invaluable to anyone with an interest in the history of linguistics or the history of Western thought.

Table of Contents

Preface to the First Edition	p. vii
Preface to the Second Edition	p. xi
Acknowledgements	p. xii
Introduction	p. xiii
Socrates on Names	p. 1
Aristotle on Metaphor	p. 20
The Bible on the Origin and Diversification of Language	p. 36
Varro on Linguistic Regularity	p. 47
Quintilian on Linguistic Education	p. 60
Thomas of Erfurt on the Modes of Signifying	p. 76
Caxton on Dialects	p. 87
The Port-Royal Grammar: Arnauld and Lancelot on the Rational Foundations of Grammar	p. 95
Wilkins on a Real Character	p. 110
Locke on the Imperfection of Words	p. 126
Condillac on the Origin of Language and Thought	p. 139
Horne Tooke on Etymological Metaphysics	p. 155
Humboldt on Linguistic and Mental Diversity	p. 171
Müller on Linguistic Evolution	p. 185
Frege on Sense and Reference	p. 196
Saussure on Language and Thought	p. 209
Bibliography and Suggestions for Further Reading	p. 225
Index	p. 231
Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.