Constructing Languages
Norms, myths and emotions
Editors
| University of Girona, ISIC-IVITRA
| Institut d'Estudis Catalans, University of Girona, ISIC-IVITRA
As language historians we believe that the subject of our study is neither natural languages nor idiolects which speakers have always been able to develop individually (loosely what Chomsky calls L-i), but rather the social constructions of reference shared by all speakers (basically what Chomsky terms as L-e ). In this context the language historian essentially studies how a public L-e is built such that it can be understood as the language of all (i.e. hiding L-i variations) and also how L-e succeed in replacing the primary reality of idiolects, even if only in the imagination.
Writing represents a crucial turning point in language construction, because it made it possible to materialize the abstraction that, until then, related speakers could only guess and besides it comes into competition with individual languages.
In modern centuries, the provision of grammars, dictionaries and other such learning tools and systematizing instruments strengthens the idea that, because of their normative character, languages can be learned through study. Mythical stories encourage the achievement of prescriptive rules and lead speakers to link emotions to their language. Therefore, the topics of reflection that we want to discuss in this volume are: Norms, Myths and Emotions related to language construction.
Writing represents a crucial turning point in language construction, because it made it possible to materialize the abstraction that, until then, related speakers could only guess and besides it comes into competition with individual languages.
In modern centuries, the provision of grammars, dictionaries and other such learning tools and systematizing instruments strengthens the idea that, because of their normative character, languages can be learned through study. Mythical stories encourage the achievement of prescriptive rules and lead speakers to link emotions to their language. Therefore, the topics of reflection that we want to discuss in this volume are: Norms, Myths and Emotions related to language construction.
[IVITRA Research in Linguistics and Literature, 13] 2016. vii, 416 pp.
Publishing status: Available
© John Benjamins
Table of Contents
1–6
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I. Rules to linguistic delimitation
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9–22
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23–38
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39–55
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57–81
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83–98
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99–129
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131–144
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145–161
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161–177
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II. The myths and the authenticity of languages
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179–198
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199–214
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215–227
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229–242
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243–263
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265–281
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283–296
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297–318
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III. Language emotions
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321–336
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337–351
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353–362
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363–392
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393–411
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Index
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413–416
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“La « construction des langues » justement, est un sujet audacieux qui va audelà des définitions habituelles de la langue [...] Cet ouvrage s’attaque aux émotions, aux mythes et aux normes qui participent à la reconnaissance des langues et à la définition de ce qu’est réellement une langue pour les spécialistes comme pour tous les usagers.”
Anne-Marie Chabrolle‐Cerretini, ATILF‐CNRS - Université de Lorraine
“Most authors of this book are very well-known specialists, who provide renewed knowledge about the history of European languages. [...] Very little work could be found in the same vein, and there is no doubt that the book will impulse new dimensions in the study of languages.”
Jean-Michel Eloy, Université de Picardie - Jules Verne
Cited by
Cited by 1 other publications
Cloutier, Robert, Nuria Yáñez-Bouza, Radosław Święciński, Gea Dreschler, Sune Gregersen, Beáta Gyuris, Kathryn Allan, Maggie Scott, Lieselotte Anderwald, Alexander Kautzsch, Sven Leuckert, Tihana Kraš, Alessia Cogo, Tian Gan, Ida Parise & Jessica Norledge
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Subjects
Linguistics
BIC Subject: CFF – Historical & comparative linguistics
BISAC Subject: LAN009000 – LANGUAGE ARTS & DISCIPLINES / Linguistics / General