Lectures on the Science of Language

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

32856

Title

Lectures on the Science of Language

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

In these lectures, F. Max Müller explores the science of language as a physical science, tracing its growth from empirical observation to theoretical classification. He examines the origins of words, the relationship between Sanskrit and other ancient tongues, and the philosophical underpinnings of how humanity distinguishes itself through reason and general ideas.

Summary up to 500 words

Delivered at the Royal Institution of Great Britain in 1861, F. Max Müller's *Lectures on the Science of Language* establishes linguistics as a rigorous physical science rather than merely a history of words. Müller argues that language development follows systematic stages: physical, empirical, classificatory, genealogical, and morphological. He provides a comparative analysis of the Aryan language family, tracing the evolution of Sanskrit from Vedic dialects to modern Indian languages. Müller establishes the antiquity of Sanskrit by referencing biblical accounts of Solomon's trade with India, noting that Hebrew words for foreign goods like apes, peacocks, and sandalwood are derived from Sanskrit, proving the language's presence in India centuries before Alexander's conquest. The lectures also investigate the Zend-Avesta, proving its connection to Sanskrit and the historical existence of Zoroaster through cuneiform inscriptions. Müller delves into etymology to demonstrate that general ideas precede specific names. For instance, the word for 'cave' implies the general concept of a hollow or cover, while 'soul' relates to the act of breathing. He analyzes roots for 'sin' and 'serpent' in Sanskrit, linking them to concepts of throttling and choking. The text debates the origin of language, exploring whether it arose from individual naming or general concepts. Müller distinguishes between human reason and animal instinct, positing that the genesis of language lies in the flash of human reason, where the ability to classify and name individual objects under general ideas separates man from the brute creation. He illustrates this by showing how words like 'moon' (the measurer) or 'sun' (the begetter) express general attributes. Ultimately, Müller concludes that all naming is a form of classification, bringing the individual under the general, and that this capacity for reason is the true genesis of language.

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Categories

• Comparative Linguistics
• Language and languages