Language diversity, contact and change in the Americas: The model of Filippo Salvatore Gilij (1721–1789)

  • Matthias Pache
  • , Arjan Mossel
  • , Willem F.H. Adelaar

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterAcademic

Abstract

Filippo Salvatore Gilij (1721–1789) was a Jesuit priest and scholar who is known in linguistic circles primarily as the discoverer of several South American language families and as an astute observer of various linguistic phenomena. In his Saggio di storia americana (1780–1784), Gilij focuses on two linguistic phenomena: (1) Language change and the effect upon it of language contact. (2) The roots of both linguistic diversity and similarities as evinced by Amerindian languages. This paper explores Gilij’s observations on language and the influence exerted on his thinking by the work of earlier scholars. His model can be characterized as a hybrid of religious ideas and modern linguistic theory, with language contact as a major component in both.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationLanguage Contact and Change in Mesoamerica and Beyond
EditorsKaren Dakin, Claudia Parodi, Natalie Operstein
Place of PublicationAmsterdam
PublisherJohn Benjamins
Chapter17
Pages355-383
Number of pages29
ISBN (Electronic)9789027265715
ISBN (Print)9789027259509
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2017
Externally publishedYes

Publication series

NameStudies in Language Companion Series
Volume185

Keywords

  • language change
  • language contact
  • linguistic diversity
  • Amerindian languages

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