The Magic of a Common Language: Jakobson, Mathesius, Trubetzkoy, and the Prague Linguistic Circle (Current Studies in Linguistics) (Current Studies in Linguistics Series)

Jindrich Toman is especially adept at showing how characteristics of the spirit of the age, such as the ideal of collective activity, the idea of a synthesis of knowledge, and an emphasis on a socially defined commitment to scholarship, became embedded in the Prague Circle's program.Driven by a desire to create a new basis for the study of language, a heterogeneous group of Czech, Russian, Ukrainian, and German scholars who found themselves in Prague in the mid-1920s launched the profoundly influential Prague Linguistic Circle. This book examines the historical factors that produced the Circle, the basic tenets that it promulgated, and, most important, the social and cultural environment in which the Circle flourished. The study can also be read as an interlocked series of intellectual biographies of the major figures who gave the Prague Circle its direction. The new linguistics, whose core was to be in phonology, emphasized synchronic analysis, anti-psychologism, anticausalism, the investigation of language contact, and the understanding of language as a social institution. Significantly, the Circle's theories were strongly connected to and reflected by Prague's literary and artistic avant-garde. The book is based on extensive archival research in Czech, Russian, and German sources. Jindrich Toman is especially adept at showing how characteristics of the spirit of the age, such as the ideal of collective activity, the idea of a synthesis of knowledge, and an emphasis on a socially defined commitment to scholarship, became embedded in the Prague Circle's program. Roman Jakobson is the Circle's best-known member, and it was he who broadcast its activity to a wider world, but Toman also focuses on several of Jakobson's colleagues who deserve equal appreciation, in particular the Russian prince and phonologist N. S. Trubetzkoy and the Czech professor of English and academic reformer Vilém Mathesius. Current Studies in Linguistics No. 26 Driven By A Common Desire To Form A New Basis For Understanding The Sources And Functioning Of Language, A Heterogeneous Group Of Czech, Russian, Ukrainian, And German Scholars Who Found Themselves Living In Prague In The Mid 1920s Created The Profoundly Influential Prague Linguistic Circle. This Book Examines The Historical Factors That Produced The Circle, The Basic Tenets That It Promulgated, And, Most Important, The Social And Cultural Environment In Which It Flourished. The Book Can Also Be Read As An Interlocking Series Of Intellectual Biographies Of The Prague Circle's Major Figures. The New Linguistics, Whose Core Was To Be Phonology, Emphasized Synchronic Analysis, Anti-psychologism, Anti-causalism, The Investigation Of Language Contact, And The Understanding Of Language As A Social Institution. Significantly, The Circle's Theories Were Strongly Connected To And Reflected By Prague's Literary And Artistic Avant-garde. The Book Is Based On Extensive Archival Research In Czech, Russian, And German Sources. Jindrich Toman Is Especially Adept At Showing How Characteristics Of The Spirit Of The Age, Such As The Ideal Of Collective Activity, The Idea Of A Synthesis Of Knowledge, And An Emphasis On A Socially Defined Commitment To Scholarship, Became Embedded In The Prague Circle's Program. It Was Roman Jakobson, The Best-known Member, Who Broadcast The Circle's Activities To A Wider World; However, Toman Also Focuses On Several Of Jakobson's Colleagues Who Deserve Equal Appreciation - In Particular The Russian Prince And Phonologist N.s. Trubetzkoy And The Czech Professor Of English And Academic Reformer Vilem Mathesius. 1. Mathesius's Problem -- 2. The Linguist Is A Futurist: Roman Jakobson's Formative Years -- 3. The Other Circumstances: Moscow, St. Petersburg, And The Revolution -- 4. Vilem Mathesius: In Search Of A New Linguistics -- 5. Intermezzo: Jakobson And Mathesius In The Early 1920s -- 6. A Republic Of Scholars: Elements Of Cross-cultural Integration In Interwar Prague -- 7. The Magic Of A Common Language -- 8. Un'organizzazione Combattiva -- 9. The Rhetoric Of Modernity: More On Ideals Of Scholarship And Ideals Of Society -- 10. Russian Images Of The Whole: Trubetzkoy, Sprachbund, And Eurasia -- 11. The Linguist Remains A Futurist: Roman Jakobson And The Czech Avant-garde -- 12. Epilogues. Jindřich Toman. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [301]-344) And Index. Driven by a desire to create a new basis for the study of language, a heterogeneous group of Czech, Russian, Ukrainian, and German scholars who found themselves in Prague in the mid-1920s launched the profoundly influential Prague Linguistic Circle. This book examines the historical factors that produced the Circle, the basic tenets that it promulgated, and, most important, the social and cultural environment in which the Circle flourished. The study can also be read as an interlocked series of intellectual biographies of the major figures who gave the Prague Circle its direction. The new linguistics, whose core was to be in phonology, emphasized synchronic analysis, anti-psychologism, anticausalism, the investigation of language contact, and the understanding of language as a social institution. Significantly, the Circle's theories were strongly connected to and reflected by Prague's literary and artistic avant-garde. The book is based on extensive archival research in Czech, Russian, and German sources. Jindrich Toman is especially adept at showing how characteristics of the spirit of the age, such as the ideal of collective activity, the idea of a synthesis of knowledge, and an emphasis on a socially defined commitment to scholarship, became embedded in the Prague Circle's program. Roman Jakobson is the Circle's best-known member, and it was he who broadcast its activity to a wider world, but Toman also focuses on several of Jakobson's colleagues who deserve equal appreciation, in particular the Russian prince and phonologist N. S. Trubetzkoy and the Czech professor of English and academic reformer Vilem Mathesius. Current Studies in Linguistics No. 26 "Driven by a common desire to form a new basis for understanding the sources and functioning of language, a heterogeneous group of Czech, Russian, Ukrainian, and German scholars who found themselves living in Prague in the mid 1920s created the profoundly influential Prague Linguistic Circle. This book examines the historical factors that produced the Circle, the basic tenets that it promulgated, and, most important, the social and cultural environment in which it flourished. The book can also be read as an interlocking series of intellectual biographies of the Prague Circle's major figures." "The new linguistics, whose core was to be phonology, emphasized synchronic analysis, anti-psychologism, anti-causalism, the investigation of language contact, and the understanding of language as a social institution. Significantly, the Circle's theories were strongly connected to and reflected by Prague's literary and artistic avant-garde.". "The book is based on extensive archival research in Czech, Russian, and German sources. Jindrich Toman is especially adept at showing how characteristics of the spirit of the age, such as the ideal of collective activity, the idea of a synthesis of knowledge, and an emphasis on a socially defined commitment to scholarship, became embedded in the Prague Circle's program. It was Roman Jakobson, the best-known member, who broadcast the Circle's activities to a wider world; however, Toman also focuses on several of Jakobson's colleagues who deserve equal appreciation - in particular the Russian prince and phonologist N. S. Trubetzkoy and the Czech professor of English and academic reformer Vilem Mathesius."--BOOK JACKET. Cover......Page 1 Title......Page 4 ISBN......Page 5 Contents......Page 6 Preface......Page 8 Acknowledgments......Page 12 1 Mathesius's Problem......Page 13 2 The Linguist Is a Futurist: Roman Jakobson's Formative Years......Page 19 3 "The Other Circumstances": Moscow, St. Petersburg, and the Revolution......Page 55 4 Vilém Mathesius: In Search of a New Linguistics......Page 83 5 An Intermezzo: Jakobson and Mathesius in the Early 1920s......Page 99 6 A Republic of Scholars: Cross-Cultural Integration in Interwar Prague......Page 115 7 The Magic of a Common Language......Page 147 8 Un'organizzazione Combattiva......Page 165 9 The Rhetoric of Modernity: More On Ideals of Scholarship and Society......Page 179 10 Russian Images of the Whole: Trubetzkoy, Sprachbund, and Eurasia......Page 197 11 The Linguist Remains a Futurist: Roman Jakobson and the Czech Avant-Garde between the Two Wars......Page 229 12 Epilogues......Page 255 Appendix......Page 275 Notes......Page 281 Sources and References......Page 313 Photo Section......Page 357 Index......Page 371