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When linguistics was first established as an academic discipline in
the nineteenth century, it was envisaged as an essentially
historical study. Languages were to be treated as historical
objects, evolving through gradual but constant processes of change
over long periods of time. In recent years, however, there has been
much discussion by historians of a 'linguistic turn' in their own
discipline, and, in linguistics, integrationist theory has mounted
a radical challenge to the traditional notion of 'languages' as
possible objects of inquiry. Language and History develops the
integrationist critique of orthodox linguistics, while at the same
time extending its implications to the field of history. By doing
so, it throws light on what is now recognized by many historians to
be a 'crisis' in their own discipline. Underlying the
post-modernist scepticism about traditional forms of
historiography, the integrationist approach reveals a more
deep-seated problem concerning the interface between philosophy of
history and philosophy of language. With chapters from a range of
leading international contributors, Language and History represents
a significant contribution to the developing work of the
integrationists.
For Roy Harris, the fundamental problem about linguistics is that
it has been led astray by the fact that we are capable
intellectually of 'decontextualising' our own verbal behaviour. A
whole interlocking system of doctrines about forms, meanings and
communication has arisen designed to support the idea that one
particular kind of decontextualising analysis is a prerequisite
for, rather than a retrospective reflection on, that behaviour.
Against this, in 13 essays collected here for the first time,
Harris argues for a fresh start, which recognises that we create
language 'as we go', both as individuals and as communities, just
as we create our social structures, forms of artistic expression,
moral values, and everything else we call civilisation. If Harris's
thought can be put in a nutshell, it is that all utterances
(whether written or spoken) have to appear in a context, and that
context is an integral part of the utterance. There is no such
thing as a contextless utterance.
For Roy Harris, the fundamental problem about linguistics is that
it has been led astray by the fact that we are capable
intellectually of 'decontextualising' our own verbal behaviour. A
whole interlocking system of doctrines about forms, meanings and
communication has arisen designed to support the idea that one
particular kind of decontextualising analysis is a prerequisite
for, rather than a retrospective reflection on, that behaviour.
Against this, in 13 essays collected here for the first time,
Harris argues for a fresh start, which recognises that we create
language 'as we go', both as individuals and as communities, just
as we create our social structures, forms of artistic expression,
moral values, and everything else we call civilisation. If Harris's
thought can be put in a nutshell, it is that all utterances
(whether written or spoken) have to appear in a context, and that
context is an integral part of the utterance. There is no such
thing as a contextless utterance.
Landmarks in Linguistic Thought II introduces the major issues and themes that have determined the development of Western thinking about language, meaning and communication in the twentieth century. Each chapter contains an extract from a 'landmark' text followed by a commentary, which places the ideas in their social and intellectual context. The book is written in an accessible and non-technical manner. The book summarizes the contribution of the key thinkers who have shaped modern linguistics. These include Austin, Chomsky, Derrida, Firth, Goffman, Harris, Jakobson, Labov, Orwell, Sapir, Whorf and Wittgenstein. This second volume follows on from Landmarks in Linguistic Thought I, which introduces the key thinkers up to the twentieth century. The series is ideal for anyone with an interest in the history of linguistics or of ideas.
Landmarks in Linguistic Thought II introduces the major issues and themes that have determined the development of Western thinking about language, meaning and communication in the twentieth century. Each chapter contains an extract from a 'landmark' text followed by a commentary, which places the ideas in their social and intellectual context. The book is written in an accessible and non-technical manner. The book summarizes the contribution of the key thinkers who have shaped modern linguistics: Austin, Chomsky, Derrida, Firth, Goffman, Harris, Jakobson, Labov, Orwell, Sapir, Whorf and Wittgenstein. This second volume follows on from Landmarks in Linguistic Thought I, which introduces the key thinkers up to the twentieth century. The series is ideal for anyone with an interest in the history of linguistics or of ideas.
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