International Journal of Language & Literature

A Brief way on Philosophy of Language: from Plato to Port-Royal Grammar
Maria Fernanda Moreira Barbosa

Abstract
This paper outline a brief philosophical way of the nature of human language, from Plato (427-347 BC) to Port-Royal grammar. Plato (427-347 BC) and Aristotle (384-322 BC) present the question of the correctness of the names. In the middle Ages, the nature of language spread over by several schools of thought very heterogeneous and appear the first grammars. In the 12th century, the speculative grammar presents a strictly scientific basis for language: deductive and universal. In the early modern, specifically with the Renaissance, modern thought arises and there is the resumption of the classical tradition and the expansion of the literature, arts, culture and a new philosophical and ethical conception. In the 17th century, the language studies focused on the modern languages of Europe. The publication of the Port-Royal grammar becomes the greatest exponent of Cartesian rationalism, reflecting the prescriptivism of traditional grammar.

Full Text: PDF      DOI: 10.15640/ijll.v3n1a8