Interested in regular online discussions about the history of the language sciences? In that case, Judith Kaplan (CHSTM) and Floris Solleveld (Bristol) have exactly what you’re looking for!

👉 https://hiphilangsci.net/2023/09/06/invitation-chstm-online-working-group/

#Histlx

We're experimenting a bit with having our podcast episodes on YouTube as well. We have uploaded four interviews so far: Andrew Garrett on Alfred Kroeber (ep. 30), Peter Trudgill on sociolinguistic typology (ep. 27), Felicity Meakins on contact linguistics (ep. 25), and Noam Chomsky on the beginnings of generative grammar (ep. 23).

https://youtube.com/@hiphilangsci

#Histlx

Today marks the 191st birthday of Wilhelm Wundt (1832-1920)! If you’re interested in learning more about the role of Völkerpsychologie in the history of linguistics, the sixth episode of our podcast on the works of August Schleicher (1821-1868) and H. Steinthal (1823-1899) is just what you’re looking for:

🎙️ https://hiphilangsci.net/2020/05/31/podcast-episode-6/

#Histlx

#OTD Ken Hale would have turned 89! 🥳

To celebrate, let’s (re-)listen to episode 34 of our podcast in which we talk with Mary Laughren about (mainly, but not only) Ken’s research into the languages of Central Australia in the mid-twentieth century.

🎙️ https://hiphilangsci.net/2023/07/01/podcast-episode-34/

#Histlx

Each new month here at HiPhiLangSci means a new report about the recent publications in the history and philosophy of the language sciences. And August 2023 is no exception to this rule!

📚 https://hiphilangsci.net/2023/08/14/pub-aug-23/

#Histlx

Languages such as Esperanto, Volapük, Ido or Novial were not just any conlangs. They were understood in the tradition of Enlightenment as solutions to the "curse of Babel" and were supposed to not only facilitate communication, but also secure peace and progress.

#Histlx 10/10

Some of the later constructed languages were really successful - the languages of Middle-earth, Klingon, Dothraki or Na'vi. None of them are, however, part of a larger movement as international languages of the late 19th and first half of the 20th centuries were.

#Histlx 9/10

A different approach presents C. K. Ogden’s (1889-1967) Basic English. Following the semiotic principles outlined in The Meaning of Meaning (1921), it focused on minimalising the lexicon while leaving grammar aside. It was even endorsed by Winston Churchill in 1943.

#Histlx 8/10

Alice Vanderbilt Morris (1874-1950) founded the International Auxiliary Language Association (IALA) in 1924 with a similar goal as the pre-war Delegation - to find the most suitable international language. After 27 years of work, IALA came up with Interlingua.

#Histlx 7/10

In October 1907, the Delegation made a decision in favour of Esperanto, but demanded a number of revisions to its grammar. The majority of Esperantists were against these suggestions, but a minority accepted them leading to the emergence of a new language Ido.

#Histlx 6/10

The movement became institutionalised in 1901 when the Delegation for the Adoption of an International Auxiliary Language was founded in Paris. Its members, e.g. Otto Jespersen, Jan Baudouin de Courtenay or Hugo Schuchardt, planned to decide which language to use.

#Histlx 5/10

Around the time Volapük was fading away, a new sheriff in town appeared - Esperanto. Created by Ludwik Lejzer Zamenhof (1859-1917) in 1887, Esperanto became the basis of a whole movement (accompanied also by the religion Homaranismo) striving for peace and harmony.

#Histlx 4/10

Volapük or 'World-Language', created by Johann Martin Schleyer (1831-1912), was the first international language to actually win any relevant number of users (almost 2 million in 1889). The project lost its relevance after a schism concerning some reform proposals.

#Histlx 3/10

The aim of the movement was the adoption of a common medium (based on natural languages, but improved) to achieve progress and peace. The movement begins with Volapük (1879), ends with Interlingua (1951), but contains also Latino sine flexione, Ido, Novial or Basic.

#Histlx 2/10

From 5 to 12 August, 118 years ago, the first World Esperanto Congress took place in Boulogne-sur-Mer. We use this opportunity to take a look at the international language movement leading to this congress and contrast it with later conlang projects.

#Histlx #Esperanto 1/10

James McElvenny, the host of our podcast, was interviewed by Samara Greenwood (University of Melbourne) for the newest episode of The HPS Podcast (Conversations from History, Philosophy and Social Studies of Science) about the intersections between language, the language sciences and science in general.

🎙️ https://thehpspodcast.buzzsprout.com/2180146/13373403-s1-ep-11-james-mcelvenny-on-language-and-science

#Histlx #HistSci

Christine Mohrmann (1903-1988), expert on the history of Christian Latin, who was born #OTD 120 years ago, was one of only 35 women who attended the First International Congress of Linguists in The Hague (1928). However, only 14 of them were scholars. The other 21 were either nuns from Nijmegen or female relatives of the male participants.

https://hiphilangsci.net/2018/02/14/first-international-congress-of-linguists/

#WomenInLinguistics #Histlx

With the newest episode (no. 35), we continue our miniseries on the history of linguistics in Australia.

With Nick Thieberger we discuss how historical language documentation can be preserved and made accessible today and in the future in digital form.

🎙️ https://hiphilangsci.net/2023/08/01/podcast-episode-35/

#Histlx

It’s Philipp Wegener’s (1848-1916) 175th birthday today! 🥳

To celebrate, go influence someone or let yourself be influenced by episode 17 of our podcast and learn more about Wegener’s work and the beginnings of functionalism!

🎙️ https://hiphilangsci.net/2021/09/01/podcast-episode-17/

#LinguisticBirthdays #LinguisticQuotes #Histlx

Have you been wondering what recently published texts about the history and philosophy of the language science you could read in July 2023? In that case, wonder no more...

📚 https://hiphilangsci.net/2023/07/20/pub-jul-23/

#Histlx