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Linguistics Theory, Foundations, and Modern Development

An Overview of Linguistics and Linguistic Applications

On the Origins of Linguistics

Realism, Nominalism, Humanism, and the Renaissance

[ > ] Rationalism, Sciental and Practical

[ < ] Early Western Linguistics: The Greeks, the Church, and Medieval Philosophy

Realism, Nominalism, Humanism, and the Renaissance

With the revival of "belles lettres" circa 1100 C.E. in Chartres and Orléans, critical thought and analysis of language once again became not only desirable but necessary. The Modistae wrote the Grammatica Speculativa following a realistic modeling (a "mirroring" experiential grammar). The name of this particular work implies that it is a reflection of what is real, and could be considered descriptive in nature, but as Medieval philosophers did not merely describe, but proscribe and prescribe, it should be considered a prescriptive grammar. Specifically, this grammar denies the flexibility of language in its three modi: modus essenti (reality/things) <-> modus intelligendi (intellect/thoughts) <-> modus significandi (language/signs). As reality is "static" (according to the Modistae), so is the intellectual image of reality, and are the linguistic elements. This theory relies heavily upon Aristotle's categories of language [Verburg in Hymes, 198].

A counterpart to realistic grammar is the nominalistic theory. Like realistic grammar, nominalism believes that language is an expression of thoughts, but it believes that the intellect is spontaneous in nature and chooses whether to express its thoughts lingually or not. These theories are both flawed in that they ignore the human agent (an active intellect is not identical with the human self), the world being a set of entities [Verburg in Hymes, 199].

Humanism is responsible for several shifts in thought in Western language studies. First, Humanism brought about an emphasis on speaking well, a revival of rhetoric. Erasmus (1466-1536 C.E.) went further to indicate that not only should speakers use the language well, but they should use it ethically. Secondly, vernaculars became acceptable as literary (learned) languages. This particular avenue broadened the goal and the accessibility of education. Humanism views language (spoken or written) as a normative function; language is a dynamic revelation of what a person means to say. The primary Renaissance linguist is Francis Bacon (1521-1626 C.E.), who reverted toward Nominalism in his belief on language [Verburg in Hymes, 199-202].

[ ^ ] On the Origins of Linguistics

[ > ] Rationalism, Sciental and Practical

[ < ] Early Western Linguistics: The Greeks, the Church, and Medieval Philosophy

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