German Linguistics in the 18th and 19th Centuries (History of Linguistics)

Growing interest in the history of linguistics in recent years has focused attention on the origin and development of key concepts in modern linguistic thought. German linguists played key roles in that development - so much so that by the end of the 19th century Germany had emerged as the undisputed centre of European linguistics. The history of linguistics is often thought of in terms of a progression from the speculative and normative concerns of the 18th century (linked with names like Herder and Gottsched) to the avowedly "scientific" programmes of the 19th century associated with Franz Bopp and Hermann Paul. This selection reflects this sense of progress, but is also intended to paint a more complex picture. It reprints writing on language by important philosophical figures such as Leibniz, a classic work in the history of European thought, Humboldt's Uber die Verschiedenheit des menschlichen Sprachbaues [1836] , as well as lesser known works such as Pott's Die Ungleichheit menschlichen Rassen hauptsachlich vom sprachwissenschaftlichen Standpunkt [1856] . The introductions to each volume give the reader historical insight into changes in the thematic focus and into the evolving division of labour between linguistics and disciplines such as theology, biology and psychology.