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

James McElvenny, Floris Solleveld, Margaret Thomas, John E. Joseph, Patrick Seriot, Lorenzo Cigana, and Chloe Laplantine

ISBN 10: 0192849042 / ISBN 13: 9780192849045

Published by OUP, 2023

About this Item

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].

Seller Inventory # HY-RW4I-3N0A

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Limits of Structuralism: Forgotten Texts in the History of Modern Linguistics
• Publisher: OUP
• Publication Date: 2023
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0192849042
• ISBN 13: 9780192849045
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: Very Good
• Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good

About this title

Synopsis

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.

About the Author

James McElvenny, Researcher, CRC Media of Co-operation, University of Siegen

James McElvenny is a researcher in the Special Collaborative Research Centre 'Media of Co-operation' at the University of Siegen, having previously held positions at the University of Potsdam and the University of Edinburgh. He is a linguist and historian of science whose research focuses on the history of modern linguistics, and his books include Form and Formalism in Linguistics (Language Science Press, 2019) and Gabelentz and the Science of Language (Amsterdam University Press, 2019).