Grimm Language

Grammar, Gender and Genuineness in the Fairy Tales

Orrin W. Robinson | Stanford University

Hardbound – Available

ISBN 9789027233448 | EUR 99.00 | USD 149.00

e-Book –

ISBN 9789027288226 | EUR 99.00 | USD 149.00

Grimm Language addresses a number of issues in the Grimms’ fairy tales from a (Germanic) linguist’s point of view. In sections dealing with the Grimms’ use of regional dialect material, various grammatical constructions, and specific nouns and adjectives in their Children’s and Household Tales, the author argues that the Grimms were consciously or unconsciously following a number of objectives. These included reinforcing the overall Germanic impression of the tales (though we now know that many of them had French inspiration), striking the right balance between archaic and colloquial language to arrive at an ideal narrative style for what was arguably a new genre, and promoting or at least reflecting stereotypes concerning the proper roles for boys and girls. The book will be of interest not only to those interested in fairy tales, and the Grimms’ in particular, but also more generally to those interested in the intersection between linguistics and literary scholarship.

[Linguistic Approaches to Literature, 10] 2010. xi, 190 pp.

Publishing status: Available

https://doi.org/10.1075/lal.10

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements | p. ix

1. A linguistic look at the Children’s and Household Tales | pp. 1–6

2. The Six Swans | pp. 7–22

3. German from where? | pp. 23–36

4. Possession | pp. 37–50

5. Forms of address | pp. 53–72

6. Reports and omissions | pp. 73–84

7. Nouns (and their adjectives) | pp. 85–106

8. Appearance | pp. 107–128

9. Moral states and mental dispositions | pp. 129–140

10. Industry and intelligence | pp. 141–150

11. Gender and the use of pronouns | pp. 151–170

12. Concluding remarks | pp. 171–174

Appendix A. Tales cited from the KHM, with translations and numbers in the 7th edition of 1857 | pp. 177–182

Index | pp. 183–190

“ Grimm Language offers an unapologetically evidence-based analysis of gender and genuineness in a collection of German stories with powerful global impact. With philological finesse and scholarly insight worthy of the Brothers Grimm themselves, Orrin Robinson slams the brakes on irresponsible interpretive moves and lays the foundation for greater precision in the field of fairy-tale studies. He takes us back to the artfully contrived artlessness of the words with which the tales are told, all the while deepening their magic.”

Maria Tatar, Harvard University

Cited by (6)

Cited by six other publications

Order by:

Nübling, Damaris & Miriam Lind

2021. neutering neuter – grammatical gender and the dehumanisation of women in German. Journal of Language and Discrimination 5:2

Banks, Monique

2020. Rewards and punishments as developing gendered ideologies in Grimm Brothers’ Briar Rose. Literator 41:1

Jódar-Sánchez, José Antonio

2019. Sexuality in Goytisolo’sAntagonía. Journal of Language and Sexuality 8:1 ► pp. 82 ff.

Lindow, John

2018. The Challenge of Folklore to Medieval Studies. Humanities 7:1 ► pp. 15 ff.

François, Cyrille

2012. C’est la plume qui fait le conte : Die sechs Schwäne des frères Grimm et De vilde Svaner de Hans Christian Andersen. Féeries :9 ► pp. 55 ff.

McIntyre, Dan

2011. The year’s work in stylistics 2010. Language and Literature: International Journal of Stylistics 20:4 ► pp. 347 ff.

This list is based on CrossRef data as of 21 october 2024. Please note that it may not be complete. Sources presented here have been supplied by the respective publishers. Any errors therein should be reported to them.

Subjects