Introduction To Part I - The Emergence of Linguistic Thinking within Premodern Cultural Practices

Summary

In premodern traditions, the science of language was embedded in other sociocultural practices. Ancient writing prompted linguistic thinking such that literacy and grammar were intertwined and the ‘grammarian’ was an important cultural figure. The Greeks believed that philosophy was the best discipline for understanding language. In all premodern traditions, commentary discourse was central in the shaping of reflection on language. Commentary threads supplemented and/or corrected the original texts (scripture and grammars). A paramount aim was to maintain/explain the language of the sacred texts (Vedas, Qur’an, Vulgate). In their quest for purity grammarians developed the ideals of hellenismos, latinitas, and „arabiyya, thus imposing literate standards that created multilingual/diglossic situations.The issue of the separation of disciplines is reflected in grammarians’ discourses. Greek rationalism influenced Arabic grammar and, later, medieval language studies. Grammar was to be separate from theology, but the boundary between grammar and logic was controversial. While translations of the Qur’an were prohibited, the Christian Bible was translated (Greek, Hebrew to Latin). But the merit of vernacular scripture translation — which challenged the authority of Latin — was debated. Translations stimulated linguistic thinking and language contact produced creative mixed forms.