A Course of Lectures on the Theory of Language, and Universal Grammar

Priestley's 1762 outline for nineteen lectures on linguistic topics ranging from articulation and the alphabet to syntax and metre.

Joseph Priestley (Author)

9781108064361, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 24 October 2013

318 pages
21.5 x 14 x 2 cm, 0.3 kg

The English polymath Joseph Priestley (1733–1804) wrote on a wide range of scientific, theological and pedagogical subjects. In 1761, he produced the influential textbook Rudiments of English Grammar (also reissued in this series). The following year, having taken up a teaching position at Warrington Academy, he released this outline of nineteen lectures on a variety of linguistic topics. Although it was not published, it was distributed to other dissenting academies. Intended to give teachers a starting point when discussing 'the art of language' in its diverse forms, the lectures range from articulation and the alphabet to comparative linguistics, syntax, metre and the evolution of language. Along with its companion work, it established Priestley as one of the leading grammarians and educators of his time. Modern readers will gain a deeper understanding of his drive to increase and share knowledge of how and why speech and writing served their purpose.

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Introduction
1. Of articulation, the nature and use of it
2. Of the origin of letters, whether divine or not
3. Of hieroglyphics, etc.
4. The general distribution of words into classes
5. Of nouns, etc.
6. Of adjectives
7. Of verbs
8. Of tenses
9. Of adverbs, etc.
10. Of derivation and composition of words
11. Of the concatenation of sentences
12. Of the regular growth and corruption of languages from internal causes
13. Of the origin and complex structure of the Greek and Latin languages
14. A multiplicity of inflections
15. Of the revolutions of languages from external causes
16. Of metrical composition
17. Observations on the different properties of language
18. A comparison of different languages
19. Of the origin of diversity of languages
Errata.

Subject Areas: Grammar, syntax & morphology [CFK]