linguistique

Forms

linguistique (plural linguistiques)^[1]

Etymology

The noun is borrowed from German Linguistik (“scientific study of languages”), a German coinage recorded from 1777.^[2] The earliest French uses refer to German scholarship, which is why the revised TLF rejects Wartburg's view of a learned derivative of Latin lingua (“tongue, language”).^[2][3] The TLFi had left open a borrowing from the German word or a derivative from French linguiste with the suffix -ique,^[4][1] and Rey describes it as a learned derivative of the Latin word or of the French noun after the German.^[5] The adjective is a calque of German linguistisch (recorded 1791).^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

In 1809 the Mercure de France reports that the Germans call linguistique the study of several languages, and advises French writers not to adopt the word.^[2]

Semantic evolution

It spread from 1826, when Adrien Balbi's Atlas ethnographique du globe used it and credited it to the Germans; the adjective is found in the same work.^[2][4][5] Throughout the 19th century it competed with philologie and other terms, and meant above all the comparative and historical study of languages.^[5][6] The modern concept, the study of language as a system of signs, came only at the end of the century, from Whitney, the Neogrammarians and above all Ferdinand de Saussure.^[5][6] Since 1953 the adjective also qualifies the learning of a foreign language, as in stage linguistique.^[2]

Timeline

• 1777 – German Linguistik is recorded.^[2]
• 1809 – First French record, in the Mercure de France.^[2]
• 1826 – Balbi's Atlas ethnographique du globe uses the noun and the adjective.^[2][4]
• 1832 – Raymond's dictionary records the adjective.^[4][5]
• 1833 – Charles Nodier's introduction to notions élémentaires de linguistique.^[5][7]
• 1877 – Linguistiquement appears.^[5]
• 1916 – Saussure's linguistique générale.^[8]
• 1953 – The adjective is used of foreign-language stays.^[2]

Meanings

Noun

1. (dated) The comparative and historical study of languages.^[6][4]
2. linguistics, the science of language seen as a system of signs: linguistique historique, linguistique générale.^[6][8]

Adjective

1. linguistic: relating to linguistics: des travaux linguistiques.^[2][9]
2. Relating to a language or to language: Cette rivière marque une frontière linguistique..^[2][6]
3. Relating to the learning of a foreign language: un stage linguistique.^[2]

Related words

• linguiste
• langue

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Steinfeld, Nadine; Buchi, Éva, eds. (2005–), TLF-Étym: révision des notices étymologiques du Trésor de la langue française informatisé, Nancy: ATILF
3. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 5, 364a
4. ^ a b c d e Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
5. ^ a b c d e f g Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b c d e Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
7. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
8. ^ a b Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
9. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette