Book contents
- Wilhelm von Humboldt and Early American Linguistics
- Wilhelm von Humboldt and Early American Linguistics
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Figures and Tables
- Maps
- Preface
- Acknowledgments
- Part I Wilhelm von Humboldt and the Americas
- Part II The Early Lives of Wilhelm and Alexander von Humboldt
- 3 The Humboldt Brothers’ Youth and Bildung in Europe of the Late Eighteenth Century
- 4 Alexander von Humboldt on His Explorations of the Americas and in His Role as His Brother’s Intermediary (1799–1804)
- 5 Wilhelm von Humboldt’s Linguistic and Ethnographic Field Experiences with Basque in the Pyrenees of Spain (1799 and 1801)
- Part III Wilhelm von Humboldt’s Americanist Linguistics
- Part IV Wilhelm von Humboldt’s Impact on Americanist Linguistics and Anthropology
- Part V Wilhelm von Humboldt as an Americanist Linguist and Anthropologist
- Book part
- References
- Index
3 - The Humboldt Brothers’ Youth and Bildung in Europe of the Late Eighteenth Century
from Part II - The Early Lives of Wilhelm and Alexander von Humboldt
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 11 January 2024
- Wilhelm von Humboldt and Early American Linguistics
- Wilhelm von Humboldt and Early American Linguistics
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Figures and Tables
- Maps
- Preface
- Acknowledgments
- Part I Wilhelm von Humboldt and the Americas
- Part II The Early Lives of Wilhelm and Alexander von Humboldt
- 3 The Humboldt Brothers’ Youth and Bildung in Europe of the Late Eighteenth Century
- 4 Alexander von Humboldt on His Explorations of the Americas and in His Role as His Brother’s Intermediary (1799–1804)
- 5 Wilhelm von Humboldt’s Linguistic and Ethnographic Field Experiences with Basque in the Pyrenees of Spain (1799 and 1801)
- Part III Wilhelm von Humboldt’s Americanist Linguistics
- Part IV Wilhelm von Humboldt’s Impact on Americanist Linguistics and Anthropology
- Part V Wilhelm von Humboldt as an Americanist Linguist and Anthropologist
- Book part
- References
- Index
Summary
Chapter 3 offers a double biography of Wilhelm von Humboldt (1767–1835) and Alexander von Humboldt (1767–1859) until the latter’s departure for the Americas, and does so for two reasons: Not only did the two brothers grow up together in an intimate fraternal relationship (with their father lost and their mother estranged), and did so despite differences in personality and interest, but Alexander also became a major resource through his own linguistic-ethnographic observations with Indigenous peoples of the Americas and as a liaison for resources from American contacts on his elder brother’s behalf. In short, Alexander served as the eyes and ears of William, who never crossed the Atlantic. On his return to Europe, Alexander then brought along major linguistic works for Wilhelm’s library. Over the years, the two Humboldts would grow even closer to each other, as evident in their organismic perspectives of language and nature.
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- Wilhelm von Humboldt and Early American LinguisticsResources and Inspirations, pp. 47 - 64Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2024