The origin of language The origin of language in eighteenth-century in eighteenth-century philosophy philosophy Sylvain Auroux Auroux Sylvain Laboratoire d d’ ’histoire histoire des des théories théories linguistiques linguistiques Laboratoire Université Paris 7 - CNRS Université Paris 7 - CNRS Montréal, Juin Juin 2010 2010 Montréal,
1- The « � � turning point turning point � » � » 1- The « � In the Western World, the origin of language and of In the Western World, the origin of language and of � languages has been addressed in one way or the other languages has been addressed in one way or the other in multiple texts since the Antiquity. in multiple texts since the Antiquity. � In the Christian Western World, the representations In the Christian Western World, the representations � and the discussions have been fed by data from the and the discussions have been fed by data from the biblical myth: the imposition of language by Adam and biblical myth: the imposition of language by Adam and the parallel genealogy of people and languages since the parallel genealogy of people and languages since the deluge. the deluge. � In this view, the In this view, the XVIIIth XVIIIth century marks a turning point in century marks a turning point in � our intellectual tradition: this issue has turned into an our intellectual tradition: this issue has turned into an issue of “ “natural and/or speculative philosophy natural and/or speculative philosophy” ”, which , which issue of avoids implying religion (secularisation) in most cases. avoids implying religion (secularisation) in most cases.
2.1 – – The philosophical The philosophical 2.1 bases of change bases of change � A A – – The The Cartesianism Cartesianism and natural philosophies and natural philosophies � which followed turned man into turned man into “ “natural natural” ” data, data, which followed an individual subject fitted with universal an individual subject fitted with universal properties ( ( intellectual intellectual – – today one would say today one would say properties cognitive – – and affective and affective capacities capacities ), ), even if even if cognitive their list has remained quite list has remained quite a a disputed disputed their philosophical problem (especially problem (especially between between philosophical rationalists and and empiricists empiricists who do not agree who do not agree rationalists on the primitive primitive elementary elementary properties). properties). on the
2.2 – – The philosophical The philosophical 2.2 bases of change bases of change � B B – – The contacts - since the major discoveries at the The contacts - since the major discoveries at the � end of the XVth XVth century and during the century and during the XVIth XVIth century century – – end of the with other civilisations have led to recognise (more or with other civilisations have led to recognise (more or less strongly) diversity diversity . From then on, for most authors, . From then on, for most authors, less strongly) there has been a schism between human human nature nature there has been a schism between (minimal universal and diversely defined essence) and (minimal universal and diversely defined essence) and the different conditions of humanity , recognised by their , recognised by their the different conditions of humanity institutions (family, society, commerce, etc.). The latter institutions (family, society, commerce, etc.). The latter (“ “cultural cultural” ” data) have not remained in their initial nature data) have not remained in their initial nature ( (natural condition), they have their own origin and their (natural condition), they have their own origin and their own history (in the modern meaning of the term). own history (in the modern meaning of the term).
3.1 – – Language and origin Language and origin 3.1 � For most thinkers languages and language are For most thinkers languages and language are � part of culture, i.e. they have an origin origin and a and a part of culture, i.e. they have an history . The former must hence be subject to . The former must hence be subject to history researches. Most major thinkers will focus on researches. Most major thinkers will focus on that topic. In 1769, the Berlin Academy of that topic. In 1769, the Berlin Academy of Sciences (chaired by Frenchman Maupertuis Maupertuis) ) Sciences (chaired by Frenchman put that question to the fellows, thereby put that question to the fellows, thereby officialising a debate initiated some twenty officialising a debate initiated some twenty years earlier: years earlier:
3.2 – – Language and origin Language and origin 3.2 � “ “Supposing that men are left to their Supposing that men are left to their � natural faculties, are they able to invent natural faculties, are they able to invent language? And how will they reach such language? And how will they reach such invention? The hypothesis demanded invention? The hypothesis demanded must explain the matter clearly and meet must explain the matter clearly and meet all the difficulties” ”. . all the difficulties
4 – – What should be meant What should be meant 4 by “ “origin origin” ” of language of language by � A A – – The beginning or the first occurrence of a The beginning or the first occurrence of a � set of currently observable and distinctly listed set of currently observable and distinctly listed facts: the origin of French, the origin of the facts: the origin of French, the origin of the language of Tahiti ( origin origin of such or such of such or such a a language of Tahiti ( language ). ). language � B B – – The beginning or the first occurrence of the The beginning or the first occurrence of the � complete order of the facts regarding A ( origin origin complete order of the facts regarding A ( of language ) ) . . of language
5 – – Adjoining questions Adjoining questions 5 � - for A: what is French?, etc. - for A: what is French?, etc. ; between L1 and ; between L1 and � L2, which is the oldest? which language was L2, which is the oldest? which language was the first in humanity? the first in humanity? � - for B: what is human language? In other - for B: what is human language? In other � words: research on the origin of language = words: research on the origin of language = research on the essence (the defining research on the essence (the defining properties) of human language; where is the properties) of human language; where is the difference between human language and difference between human language and animal language? animal language?
6 – – The two models The two models 6 � Type-A as well as type-B questions are Type-A as well as type-B questions are � influenced to a vast extent by the influenced to a vast extent by the breakthroughs in the knowledge of world breakthroughs in the knowledge of world languages, which French historians of languages, which French historians of linguistics designate as “ “grammatisation grammatisation” ” linguistics designate as process. Nevertheless, two research models process. Nevertheless, two research models may be differentiated abstractly: may be differentiated abstractly: � I I – – Abstract Abstract or « or « speculative speculative » » model. model. � II – – Positive or « Positive or « historical historical » » model. model. II
7 – – The speculative model The speculative model 7 (1) (1) � “ “First of all, let us rule out all facts First of all, let us rule out all facts” ”, , � Rousseau, Discourse of the origin of Discourse of the origin of Rousseau, equality. equality. � “ “When I am talking of a first language, I When I am talking of a first language, I � do not claim to establish that men do not claim to establish that men created it, I only think that they might created it, I only think that they might have created it", Condillac Condillac, , Grammar Grammar , I.II. , I.II. have created it",
8.1 – – The speculative The speculative 8.1 model (2) model (2) � The aim is to establish a scenario from The aim is to establish a scenario from � minimum hypotheses: minimum hypotheses: � in natural condition (without society) men in natural condition (without society) men � have no language available as we mean have no language available as we mean it, they must create it; it, they must create it;
8.2 – – The speculative The speculative 8.2 model (2) model (2) � as subjects (individuals) only a number of as subjects (individuals) only a number of � properties are available; these properties are properties are available; these properties are as follows: i) intellectual faculties: reflection or as follows: i) intellectual faculties: reflection or circumspection (Besonnenheit Besonnenheit, in Herder), , in Herder), circumspection ( possibly reason (Maupertuis Maupertuis) ) ; and/or ii) more ; and/or ii) more possibly reason ( sensitive faculties: need (Condillac Condillac), sociability ), sociability sensitive faculties: need ( instinct or mercy for Rousseau, imitation instinct or mercy for Rousseau, imitation capacity; and/or physical properties: ability to capacity; and/or physical properties: ability to produce certain sounds according to certain produce certain sounds according to certain motivations. motivations.
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