Introduction

Summary

The CHL is an authoritative, chronologically arranged account of the history of the study of language, including (late) twentieth-century ‘recent history.’ Its chapters, written by leading scholars, show how language as a focus of study has been established over the centuries. While western traditions are emphasized, the volume also discusses others. It is designed to be an essential reference for researchers, teachers, and students in linguistics and related disciplines. The CHL is divided into three parts, each with an Introduction describing the larger context of interest in language: I. Ancient, Classical, and Medieval Periods; II. Renaissance to Late Nineteenth Century; III. Late Nineteenth through Twentieth Century (through the mid 1950s, and 1950s to 2000). These groupings are related to their pertinence to the history of linguistics and the way conceptualizations about language have been connected to the different philosophical, religious, and political concerns and sociocultural practices of the times.