Landmarks in Linguistic Thought 1: The Western Tradition from Socrates to Saussure

Front Cover
Psychology Press, 1997 - 234 pages
By introducing the reader to the main 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 ofthis 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.

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Contents

Socrates on names
1
Aristotle on metaphor
20
The Bible on the origin and diversification of language
36
Varro on linguistic regularity
47
Quintilian on linguistic education
60
Thomas of Erfurt on the modes of signifying
76
Caxton on dialects
87
Arnauld and Lancelot
95
Wilkins on a real character
110
Locke on the imperfection of words
126
Condillac on the origin of language and thought
139
Horne Tooke on etymological metaphysics
155
Humboldt on linguistic and mental diversity
184
Frege on sense and reference
196
Saussure on language and thought
209
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