Landmarks in Linguistic Thought I: The Western Tradition from Socrates to Saussure, 2nd edition (Routledge History of Linguistic Thought Series)

By introducing the reader to the main issues and themes that have determined the development of the Western linguistic tradition, an evolution of linguistic thought quickly becomes apparent. Each chapter in this accessible book contains a short extract from a 'landmark' text followed by a commentary which places the text in its social and intellectual context.The authors, who consider writers from Aristotle to Caxton to Saussure, have fully revised the original edition ofthis text. Complete with two new chapters on Bishop John Wilkins and Frege, a revised preface and updated bibliography, this book will be invaluable to anyone with an interest in the History of Linguistics, or the History of Western Thought.

By introducing the reader to the major issues and themes that have determined the development of the Western linguistic tradition, an evolution of linguistic thought quickly becomes apparent. Each chapter in this accessible book contains a short extract from a "landmark" text followed by a commentary which places the text in its social and intellectual context.

The authors, who consider writers from Aristotle to Caxton to Saussure, have fully revised the original edition of this text. Complete with two new chapters on Bishop John Wilkins and Frege, a revised preface and updated bibliography, this book will be invaluable to anyone with an interest in the history of linguistics or the history of Western thought.

By introducing the reader to the main issues and themes that have determined the development of the Western linguistic tradition, an evolution of linguistic thought quickly becomes apparent. Each chapter in this accessible book contains a short extract from a `landmark' text followed by a commentary which places the text in its social and intellectual context. The authors, who consider writers from Aristotle to Caxton to Saussure, have fully revised the original edition ofthis text. Complete with two new chapters on Bishop John Wilkins and Frege, a revised preface and updated bibliography, this The Classical Greek view of language as a human accomplishment is nowhere better expressed than in the following passage from the famous Athenian rhetorician Isocrates (436-338 BC): In most of our abilities we differ not at all from the animals; we are in fact behind many in swiftness and strength and other resources. So begins the earliest record of any extended debate on linguistic questions that survives in Western literature.