TY - JOUR A1 - McElvenny, James T1 - Grammar, typology and the Humboldtian tradition in the work of Georg von der Gabelentz JF - Language & history : journal of the Henry Sweet Society for the History of Linguistic Ideas N2 - A frequently mentioned if somewhat peripheral figure in the historiography of late nineteenth-century linguistics is the German sinologist and general linguist Georg von der Gabelentz (1840–1893). Today Gabelentz is chiefly remembered for several insights that proved to be productive in the development of subsequent schools and subdisciplines. In this paper, we examine two of these insights, his analytic and synthetic systems of grammar and his foundational work on typology. We show how they were intimately connected within his conception of linguistic research, and how this was in turn embedded in the tradition established by Wilhelm von Humboldt (1767–1835), especially as it was further developed by H. Steinthal (1823–1899). This paper goes beyond several previous works with a similar focus by drawing on a wider range of Gabelentz’ writings, including manuscript sources that have only recently been published, and by examining specific textual connections between Gabelentz and his predecessors. KW - History of linguistics KW - typology KW - language description KW - grammar KW - Humboldtian linguistics KW - Georg von der Gabelentz KW - H . Steinthal KW - Wilhelm von Humboldt Y1 - 2017 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1080/17597536.2016.1212580 SN - 1759-7536 SN - 1759-7544 VL - 60 SP - 1 EP - 20 PB - Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group CY - Abingdon ER - TY - JOUR A1 - McElvenny, James T1 - The fate of form in the Humboldtian tradition: The Formungstrieb of Georg von der Gabelentz JF - Journal of geophysical research : Solid earth N2 - The multifaceted concept of ‘form’ plays a central tole in the linguistic work of Wilhelm von Humboldt (1767–1835), where it is deeply entwined with aesthetic questions. H. Steinthal's (1823–1899) interpretation of linguistic form, however, made it the servant of psychology. The Formungstrieb (drive to formation) of Georg von der Gabelentz (1840–1893) challenged Steinthal's conception and placed a renewed emphasis on aesthetics. In this endeavour, Gabelentz drew on the work of such figures as August Friedrich Pott (1802–1887), Hans Conon von der Gabelentz (1807–1874) and William Dwight Whitney (1827–1894). In this paper, we examine Gabelentz' Formungstrieb and place it in its historical context. KW - History of linguistics KW - Linguistic form KW - Aesthetics KW - Georg von der Gabelentz KW - Wilhelm von Humboldt KW - H. Steinthal Y1 - 2016 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.langcom.2015.12.004 SN - 0271-5309 VL - 47 SP - 30 EP - 42 PB - Elsevier CY - Oxford ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Krämer, Philipp T1 - Creole exceptionalism in a historical perspective - from 19th century reflection to a self-conscious discipline JF - Language sciences N2 - In order to re-evaluate the ongoing debate about so-called creole exceptionalism, parallels and continuities from historical texts are shown in a line of argumentation that can be found both in works from the 19th century and from today. Mainly, the influential study of Mauritian Creole by Charles Baissac (1880) exhibits considerable similarities with today's exceptionalist positions. Persisting arguments such as the idea of creoles as "simple", "young" and "natural" languages are (and were) to show the difference of creoles from other languages. Creolists argue that evidence of creoles as a distinct class provides support for the relevance and independence of creolistics as a discipline. Comparing contemporary and historical sources can shed new light on the epistemological heritage of the field. KW - History of linguistics KW - Typology KW - Creole KW - Mauritius KW - Epistemology KW - 19th century philology KW - Charles Baissac Y1 - 2013 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.langsci.2013.02.003 SN - 0388-0001 VL - 38 IS - 4 SP - 99 EP - 109 PB - Elsevier CY - Oxford ER -