Mlanges de mythologie et de linguistique [Paperback]

An 1877 analysis of the common origins of language and mythology by a founder of modern semantics.The eminent French philologist Michel Br?al (18321915) made significant contributions to the fields of comparative linguistics, pedagogy and etymology. In this work, first published in 1877, he argues that language and mythology have a common origin, and he lays the foundations of modern semantics.The eminent French philologist Michel Br?al (18321915) made significant contributions to the fields of comparative linguistics, pedagogy and etymology. In this work, first published in 1877, he argues that language and mythology have a common origin, and he lays the foundations of modern semantics.The eminent French philologist Michel Br?al (18321915) made significant contributions to the fields of comparative linguistics, pedagogy and etymology. He became a member of the Acad?mie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres in 1875 and a commander of the L?gion d'honneur in 1890. This work, first published in 1877, gathers together articles that Br?al mostly wrote before 1869, when he was appointed secretary of the new and prestigious Soci?t? de Linguistique de Paris. He argues that language and mythology have a common origin, which accounts for why most abstract nouns are feminine, in remembrance of ancient deities. Br?al also exposes new ways to study languages and their impact in primary and secondary education. Lastly, he lays the foundations of modern semantics, a discipline he intended would reconcile historical linguistics with the philosophy of the Enlightenment.Pr?face; 1. Hercule et Cacus; 2. Le mythe d'Oedipe; 3. De la g?ographie de l'Avesta; 4. La l?gende du Brahmane converti par Zoroastre; 5. Sur la composition des livres zends; 6. De la m?thode comparative appliqu?e ? l'?tude des langues; 7. De la forme et de la fonction des mots; 8. Les progr?s de la grammaire compar?e; 9. Les id?es latentes du langage; 10. Quelle place doit tenir la grammaire compar?e dans l'enseignel%