Brinton.] dUO [March 20, 



The Philosophic Grammar of American Languages, as set forth 

 by Wilhehn von Humboldt^ tvith the translation of an unpub- 

 lished memoir bij him on the American Verb. By Daniel G. 

 Brinton, M.D. 



(Read before the American PldlosopJdcnl Society, March 20, 18S5.) 

 § 1. Introductory. 



The foundations of the Philosophy of Language were laid by 

 Wilhelm von Humboldt (b. June 22, lYGT, d. April 8, 1835). 

 The principles he advocated have frequently been misunder- 

 stood, and some of them have been modified, or even contro- 

 verted, by more extended research; but a careful survey of the 

 tendencies of modern thought in this field will show that the 

 philosophic scheme of the nature and growth of languages, which 

 he set forth, is graduall}^ reasserting its sway, after having been 

 neglected and denied through the preponderance of the so-called 

 naturalistic school during the last quarter of a century. 



The time seems ripe, therefore, to bring the general principles 

 of his philosophy to the knowledge of American scholars, espe- 

 cially as applied b}^ himself to the analysis of American lan- 

 guages. 



Any one at all acquainted with Humboldt's writings, and the 

 literature to which they have given rise, will recognize that this 

 is a serious task. I have felt it such, and have prepared myself 

 for it not only by a careful perusal of his own published writings, 

 but also by a comparison of the conflicting interpretations put 

 upon them by Dr. Max Schasler,* Prof H. Steinthal,t Prof. C. 

 J. Adler,| and others, as well as b_v obtaining a copy of an en- 

 tirel}' unpublished memoir by Humboldt on the "American 



* Die Eleniente der Philosophischen Sprachwissenschaft Wilhelm. von HumholdVs. 

 In sysiemaiischer Eniwicklung dargestelU und kritisch erlHuleri, von Dr. Max 

 Schasler, Berlin, 1847. 



t Die Sprachwissenschaft Wilhelm von Humholdl's und die HeaeVsche Philosophie, 

 von H. Steinthal, Dr., Berlin, 1848. The same eminent linguist treats especially 

 of Humboldt's teachings in Orammatik, Logik und Psychologie, ihre Prin<ipien 

 und ihr Verhalfniss zu einander, pp. 123-1.35 (Berlin, 1855) ; in his well-known vol- 

 ume Characteristik der HauptscLchlichsten Typen des Svrnchhaves, pp. 20-70 (Berlin, 

 860); in his recent oration Uebei- Wilhelm von Humboldt (Berlin, 1883); and else- 

 where. 



X Wilhelm von Humboldt's Linguisficol Studies. By C.J. Adler, A.M. (New York, 

 18G6). This is the only attempt, so far as I know, to present Humboldt's philos- 

 ophy of language to Knglish readers. It is meritorious, but certainly in some 

 passages Prof. Adler failed to catch Humboldt's meaning. 



