On the Origin of Language

by Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Johann Gottfried Herder, translated by John H. Moran and Alexander Gode

University of Chicago Press, 1986
Paper: 978-0-226-73012-7 | Electronic: 978-0-226-92328-4
DOI: 10.7208/chicago/9780226923284.001.0001

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University of Chicago Press (paper, ebook)

ABOUT THIS BOOKAUTHOR BIOGRAPHYTABLE OF CONTENTS

ABOUT THIS BOOK

This volume combines Rousseau's essay on the origin of diverse languages with Herder's essay on the genesis of the faculty of speech. Rousseau's essay is important to semiotics and critical theory, as it plays a central role in Jacques Derrida's book Of Grammatology, and both essays are valuable historical and philosophical documents.

AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY

John H. Moran is associate professor of philosophy at Manhattan College. Alexander Gode was professor of German at New York University.

1. On the Various Means of Communication Our Thoughts

2. That the Invention of Speech is Due not to Need but Passion

3. That the First Language Had to be Figurative

4. On the Distinctive Characteristics of the First Language and the Changes it Had to Undergo

5. On Script

6. Whether it is Likely that Homer Knew How to Write

7. On Modern Prosody

8. General and Local Differences in the Origin of Languages

9. Formation of tbe Southern Languages

10. Formation of the Languages of tbe North

11. Reflections on These Differences

12. The Origin of Music and lts Relations

13. On Melody

14. On Harmony

15. That Our Most Lively Sensations Frequently Are Produced by Moral Impressions

16. False Analogy between Colors and Sounds

17. An Error of Musicians Harmfül to Their Art

18. That the Greek Musical System Had No Relation to Ours

19. How Music Has Degenerated

20. Relationship of Languages to Govemment

Essay on the Origin of Language - John Gottfried Herder

Section One

Section Two

Section Three