Grammar And Philosophy In Late Antiquity: A Study Of Priscian's Sources (studies In The History Of The Language Sciences)

This book examines the various philosophical influences contained in the ancient description of the noun. According to the traditional view, grammar adopted its philosophical categories in the second century B.C. and continued to make use of precisely the same concepts for over six hundred years, that is, until the time of Priscian (ca. 500). The standard view is questioned in this study, which investigates in detail the philosophy contained in Priscian’s Institutiones grammaticae . This investigation reveals a distinctly Platonic element in Priscian’s grammar, which has not been recognised in linguistic historiography. Thus, grammar manifestly interacted with philosophy in Late Antiquity. This discovery led to the reconsideration of the origin of all the philosophical categories of the noun. Since the authenticity of the Techne , which was attributed to Dionysius Thrax, is now regarded as uncertain, it is possible to speculate that the semantic categories are derived from Late Antiquity. SIHOLS 107 GRAMMAR AND PHILOSOPHY IN LATE ANTIQUITY: A STUDY OF PRISCIAN'S SOURCES 1 Editorial page 2 Title page 3 Copyright page 4 Table of contents 5 PREFACE 9 1. INTRODUCTION 11 Pre-Apollonian Grammar 12 Apollonius Dyscolus 14 Post-Apollonian, Platonist Influence 15 Traditional Model 16 Standard Philosophical Apparatus 18 Working Hypothesis 19 2. PHILOSOPHICAL TRADITION 22 Plato and the Old Academy 22 The Sophist 23 Aristotle's Categories 25 Peri Hermeneias 27 Ambiguity 27 Stoic Logic 28 Components of σημαíνοντα ("that which signifies") and σημαινόμενα ("that which is signified") 29 Parts of Speech 30 Stoic Categories 31 Corporeality 32 Amphibolia 33 Concluding Remarks 33 3. THE ALEXANDRIAN GRAMMARIANS 35 Aristophanes 36 Aristarchus 37 Dionysius Thrax 38 Concluding Remarks 39 4. HELLENISTIC SYNCRETISM 40 Categories 41 Parts of Speech 43 Other Middle Platonic Themes 44 Neoplatonism 45 5. LATIN GRAMMARIANS 48 Definition of the Noun 48 Qualitas in Latin Grammar 51 Proper and Common Nouns 55 Subdivisions of Proper Nouns 57 Adjectives 59 Epitheton in Rhetoric and Stylistics 59 Technical Grammar 65 Third Part of Grammar 72 Techne and the Scholiasts 75 Homonyms and Synonyms 77 Philosophical Commentary in Late Antiquity 79 Rhetoric 81 Third Part of Grammar 83 Relational Nouns 85 Specific and Generic Nouns 87 A Note on Apollonius Dyscolus 88 6. PRISCIAN 89 Apollonius Dyscolus: Orderliness of Language 90 Principal Parts of Speech 91 Non-Apollonian Philosophy in Priscian 92 Definition of the Noun 94 Substance versus Quality 95 Corporeality 95 Body versus Substance 96 Authenticity of Priscian' s Examples 98 Proper Nouns, Common Nouns and Adjectives 100 Apollonius Dyscolus 107 Dionysius Thrax and the Scholiasts 113 The Pronoun 114 Substance 114 The Pronoun and the Person of the Verb 116 Indefinite Pronouns or Nouns? 120 Interrogative Nouns and Adverbs 123 Quale, Quantum, Quot, etc: Accidents or Properties 124 Why are there no Interrogative Verbs? 128 Priscian proceeds to argue that nouns can replace adverbs 129 More about Question-formation 130 An Excursus into the Method of Definitions 132 Construction of Pronouns 133 Concluding Remarks 138 7. THE STATUS OF THE EIGHT PARTS OF SPEECH 139 8. AUGUSTINE 148 Ars breviata 149 De doctrina Christiana 151 De magistro 152 De dialectica 155 De ordine 157 Conclusions 159 GENERAL CONCLUSIONS 161 REFERENCES 166 INDEX AUCTORUM 175 INDEX RERUM 178 This Book Examines The Various Philosophical Influences Contained In The Ancient Description Of The Noun. According To The Traditional View, Grammar Adopted Its Philosophical Categories In The Second Century B.c. And Continued To Make Use Of Precisely The Same Concepts For Over Six Hundred Years, That Is, Until The Time Of Priscian (ca. 500). The Standard View Is Questioned In This Study, Which Investigates In Detail The Philosophy Contained In Priscian's Institutiones Grammaticae. This Investigation Reveals A Distinctly Platonic Element In Priscian's Grammar, Which Has Not Been Recognised In Linguistic Historiography. Thus, Grammar Manifestly Interacted With Philosophy In Late Antiquity.--jacket. 1. Introduction -- 2. Philosophical Tradition -- 3. The Alexandrian Grammarians -- 4. Hellenistic Syncretism -- 5. Latin Grammarians -- 6. Priscian -- 7. The Status Of The Eight Parts Of Speech. Anneli Luhtala. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [156]-164) And Indexes.