Lecture Introduction to linguistics: Historical linguistics: Ferdinand de Saussure. In this chapter, students will be able to understand: History of linguistics, schools of thought in linguistics, structuralism, ferdinand de saussure, structuralism in America. | Historical Linguistics (1) Ferdinand de Saussure Dr. Ansa Hameed Today’s Lecture History of Linguistics Schools of Thought in Linguistics Structuralism Ferdinand de Saussure Structuralism in America Before Linguistics Prelude: 19th Century Dominated by Philology, Comparative Philology and Traditional Grammar Approach Language was a describable entity Diachronic Approaches Emergence of Linguistics Emergence of Modern Linguistics Shift from historic & descriptive study of language to scientific study of language Language is itself a system Synchronic Approach Emergence of Structuralist Approach Major Schools of Thought in Linguistics STRUCTURALISM FUNCTIONALISM OR FUNCTIONAL LINGUISTICS GENERATIVE LINGUISTICS THE PRAGUE SCHOOL THE LONDON SCHOOL Structuralism Focus on Language Structure/ Form Structural linguistics is based on the idea that language is a self-regulating and self-contained system. Pioneer: Ferdinand de Saussure A Course in General Linguistics Structuralism Ferdinand de Saussure (1857-1913) Father of Modern Linguistics Saussure’s Brief Life History Born 26 November 1857 (French origin, moved to Geneva) From a family of many scholars Studied Latin, Greek, chemistry, theology and law at University of Geneva (1875-76) At age 21, wrote Mémoire sur le système primitif des voyelle dans les langues indo-européennes in which he proved scholars wrong. 1880 awarded doctorate at University Leipzig (Germany). Taught at Paris. 1891 returned to Geneva to teach there. Taught ancient Sanskrit for 21 (!) years! Was asked to teach a course in General Linguistics (taught it three times 1907 - 11) Influenced many different linguists, but also other disciplines: Anthropology Psychiatry Literary criticism Saussure died in 1913. His Course in General Linguistics was published by students posthumously in 1916 and has been translated into many different languages. Saussure’s Ideas: 1 The subject matter of Linguistics is Human speech The object of Linguistics is Language which . | Historical Linguistics (1) Ferdinand de Saussure Dr. Ansa Hameed Today’s Lecture History of Linguistics Schools of Thought in Linguistics Structuralism Ferdinand de Saussure Structuralism in America Before Linguistics Prelude: 19th Century Dominated by Philology, Comparative Philology and Traditional Grammar Approach Language was a describable entity Diachronic Approaches Emergence of Linguistics Emergence of Modern Linguistics Shift from historic & descriptive study of language to scientific study of language Language is itself a system Synchronic Approach Emergence of Structuralist Approach Major Schools of Thought in Linguistics STRUCTURALISM FUNCTIONALISM OR FUNCTIONAL LINGUISTICS GENERATIVE LINGUISTICS THE PRAGUE SCHOOL THE LONDON SCHOOL Structuralism Focus on Language Structure/ Form Structural linguistics is based on the idea that language is a self-regulating and self-contained system. Pioneer: Ferdinand de Saussure A Course in General Linguistics Structuralism Ferdinand de .
