Transcript Jonathan Swift

Jonathan Swift
And the idea for an English
language academy
Biography
• * November 30th 1667 in Dublin, Ireland
• † 19. October 1745 in Dublin, Ireland
• 1682 entered the University of Dublin and later
the University of Oxford
• 1695 became a priest of the Anglican Church
• “A Proposal for Correcting, Improving and
Ascertaining the English Tongue" (1712)
• “Gulliver's Travels” (1726)
• “A Modest Proposal for Preventing the Children
of poor People in Ireland from being a Burden to
their Parents or Country, and for making them
beneficial to the Public” (1729)
The Spirit of his Time
Characteristics of the 18th century philosophy:
• „…strong sense of order and …regulation…“
• „…the desire for system and regularity…“
Language
• Latin was seen as the role model language
• The grammar of the English language became
an individual field of study
•  „…it was the desire of the 18th century to give
the English language a polished, rational and
permanent form.“
His Vision
• „I see no absolute necessity why any language
should be perpetually changing;…“
• „…and if it were once refined to a certain
standard, perhaps there might be ways found
out to fix it forever; or at least till we are invaded
and made a conquest by some other state;…“
His Vision
• Remedying what he named the „defects“ of
the „vulgar language“:
- too many monosyllables
→ clippings: mob (mobile)
- verb endings : clipp‘d
- newly coined words (fashion words)
• The fixing and ascertaining of the English
language after the „cleansing process“ was
finished
Ascertain? Why?
• Swift‘s reasons:
• English would not be regarded as barbarous anymore
(compared to Latin)
• Fear of losing his status of immortality as a writer
• „How then shall any man…be able to undertake such work with
spirit and cheerfulness, when he considers that he will be read
with pleasure but a very few years and in an age or two shall
hardly be understood without an interpreter?...This is like
employing an excellent statuary to work upon mouldering
stone.“
Ascertain? How?
• Put the „cleansed“ language into laws.
• Language after that may be extended but not
under change of what had previously been
named valid.
Ascertain? Who?
• Compilation of the academy
- „…a free judicious choice should be made of
such persons, as are generally allowed to be
best qualified for such a work, without any
regard to quality, party or posession.“
• Tasks of the academy
- „Fix the language on rule“
- Work with the example of the French, to
their mistakes
avoid
Role Models France and Italy
• Italy: “Accademia della Crusca” founded in
1582
• Achievements
- Dictionary published 1612
• France: “L’académie Francaise” founded in
1635 by Cardinal Richelieu
• Achievements
- Dictionary published 1694 (1st ed.)
Examples for successful
language ascertainment…?
• Authorised Version of the Bible (1611)
• Book of Common Prayer (1662)
• Logical error:
standard texts vs. standardized language
Supporters and Opponents
• Earlier Supporters of the idea of an academy:
- Royal Society/John Dryden 1664
- Daniel Defoe 1697
• Opponent: Sir John Oldmixon
- against Swift as a person rather than against
the idea of an academy
- more out of political motives
Letter to the Lord High
Treasurer
• 22nd Feb 1712
• Money (e.g. „…the expense for a large room,
where ‘the society‘ should meet.“)
• Royal Support
• To assure the Treasurer‘s instruction and
protection for „the society“
Letter to the Lord High
Treasurer
• „ There is no example in history of any minister who in so
short a time hath performed so many great things and
overcome many great difficulties.“
• „…I must be so plain as to tell Your Lordship that if You
will not take some care to settle our language…I cannot
promise that Your memory shall be preserved above a
hundred years further than by imperfect transition.“
• „However, I must venture to affirm, that if Genius and
Learning be not encouraged under Your Lordship‘s
administration, You are the most inexcusable person
alive.“
Success…or not!
• Measures for the foundation of an
academy had already been taken by the
Lord High Treasurer
• Mainly due to Queen Anne‘s death (1714)
the academy never came to be
• Further attempts of refining the language
were tried directly through the public
Sources
•
„ A Proposal for Correcting, Improving and
Ascertaining the English Tongue”, Jonathan Swift, 1712, London
•
A.C. Baugh/ T. Cable: „The Appeal to Authority“ in „A History of the
English Language“, 3rd ed. 1983, London u.a., Rutledge & Kegan
Paul
• www.wikipedia.de
• www.wikipedia.com
•
http://www.bookforum.com/sheidlower.html