Ancient Greek Ideas on Speech, Language, and Civilization

Deborah Levine Gera*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Book/ReportBookpeer-review

115 Scopus citations

Abstract

The source and nature of earliest speech and civilization are puzzles which have intrigued people for many centuries. This study explores ancient Greek views on the source and nature of the world's first society and first language. Two of the book's chapters are based on close readings of passages in Homer and Herodotus, while the remaining chapters are broader surveys of a variety of Greek literary texts. Topics covered include the nature of the language used both by men and animals in the idyllic golden age, accounts of humans' ascent to civilised life and their acquisition of language, and exotic creatures and peoples who have only limited linguistic capacities. Discussions of Enlightenment thinkers and modern theories of glottogenesis and language acquisition set Greek assumptions in a wider perspective.

Original languageEnglish
PublisherOxford University Press
Number of pages272
ISBN (Electronic)9780191719578
ISBN (Print)9780199256167
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jan 2010

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© Oxford University Press, 2013. All Rights Reserved.

Keywords

  • Civilised life
  • Enlightenment thinkers
  • First language
  • First society
  • Glottogenesis
  • Greek literary texts
  • Herodotus
  • Homer
  • Idyllic golden age
  • Language acquisition

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