The Limits of Structuralism: Forgotten Texts in the History of Modern Linguistics

2023 OUP hardcover edition. Unread copy in very good condition. From the cover: Based around seven primary texts spanning 130 years, this volume explores the conceptual boundaries of structuralism, a scholarly movement and associated body of doctrines foundational to modern linguistics and many other humanities and social sciences. Each chapter in the volume presents a classic - and yet today underappreciated - text that addresses questions crucial to the evolution of structuralism. The texts are made accessible to present-day English-speaking readers through translation and extensive critical notes; each text is also accompanied by a detailed introduction that places it in its intellectual and historical context and outlines the insights that it contains. The volume reveals the complex genealogy of our ideas and enriches our understanding of their contemporary form and use. Contents: 1. Scouting the limits of structuralism - James McElvenny 2. 'Primitive structures', polysynthesis, and Peter Stephen du Ponceau - Floris Solleveld [Peter Stephen du Ponceau (1838): On the grammatical character of the languages of North America, known as Lenni Lenape, Mohican, and Chippewa] 3. Franz Boas' 'purely analytical approach' to language classification in the backdrop to American structuralism - Margaret Thomas [Franz Boas (1920): The classification of American languages] 4. Georg von der Gabelentz's typology: Humboldtian linguistics on the threshold of structuralism - James McElvenny [Georg von der Gabelentz (1894): Typology of languages—a new task of linguistics] 5. Grammaticalization and the sentimental evolution of Antoine Meillet - John E. Joseph [Antoine Meillet (1912): The evolution of grammatical forms] 6. Roman Jakobson, language unions, and structuralism in Russia: Encounter or misunderstanding? - Patrick Seriot [Roman Jakobson (1931): The Eurasian language union] 7. Louis Hjelmslev on the correlational structure of language: The place within the system - Lorenzo Cigana [Louis Hjelmslev (1933): General structure of linguistic correlations] 8. Emile Benveniste on the relation between linguistic and social structures: 'Let us then consider that language interprets society' - Chloe Laplantine [Emile Benveniste (1970): Structure of language and structure of society]. …