Linguistics in America 1769 - 1924

Julie Andresen examines the developments, themes and social frameworks that determined the development of American linguistics in the 155 years from the founding of the American Philosophical Society in 1769 to the founding of the Linguistic Society of America in 1924. She argues that three developments capture a significant portion of American linguistic activity: (1) the study of American Indian languages, (2) the emergence of a distinctive Anglo-American 'thought' which was accompanied by the 'defence and illustration' of American English, (3) the influence of European linguistic theories on American scholarship, out of which rose a 'general linguistics': recognized as an international discipline. Throughout the book the idea is developed that theories of language do not transcend the language in which they are written, and ways - metaphors and images - are uncovered that are peculiar to the American-language linguistic tradition.