Changes

[[Image:lighterstill.jpg]]

[[Image:lighterstill.jpg]][[Image:Digitalphilology.jpg|right|frame]]

'''Philology''', [[Etymology|etymologically]], is the "love of words." It is most accurately defined as "an affinity toward the learning of the backgrounds as well as the current usages of spoken or written methods of human communication." The commonality of studied languages is more important than their origin or age, though those factors are important as well. The term is derived from the [[Greek language|Greek]] terms ''philos'' (Φιλος) meaning love and ''logos'' (λογος) meaning word. In a sense, to understand a language, philology seeks to understand the origins of that language, and so it is often defined as "the study of ancient [[writing|text]]s and languages," although this is a rather narrow view and is not entirely accurate.

'''Philology''', [[Etymology|etymologically]], is the "love of words." It is most accurately defined as "an affinity toward the learning of the backgrounds as well as the current usages of spoken or written methods of human communication." The commonality of studied languages is more important than their origin or age, though those factors are important as well. The term is derived from the [[Greek language|Greek]] terms ''philos'' (Φιλος) meaning love and ''logos'' (λογος) meaning word. In a sense, to understand a language, philology seeks to understand the origins of that language, and so it is often defined as "the study of ancient [[writing|text]]s and languages," although this is a rather narrow view and is not entirely accurate.

In its more restricted sense of "[[historical linguistics]]," philology was one of the 19th century's first scientific approaches to human language but gave way to the modern science of [[linguistics]] in the early 20th century due to the influence of [[Ferdinand de Saussure]], who argued that spoken language should have primacy.  

In its more restricted sense of "[[historical linguistics]]," philology was one of the 19th century's first scientific approaches to human language but gave way to the modern science of [[linguistics]] in the early 20th century due to the influence of [[Ferdinand de Saussure]], who argued that spoken language should have primacy.  

Most importantly, philology commends the ability to recognize the words of one language from the roots of another, by recognition of common (shared) roots and grammar. It is for this reason that someone who is fluent in Portuguese can, naturally and without training in the Spanish language, read a Spanish-language newspaper and know what is going on in the world{{Fact|date=April 2007}}. Although not every word is directly translatable, the overall meaning of the text is readily apparent. In other words, several different words can designate a single [[concept]].

Most importantly, philology commends the ability to recognize the words of one language from the roots of another, by recognition of common (shared) roots and grammar. It is for this reason that someone who is fluent in Portuguese can, naturally and without training in the Spanish language, read a Spanish-language newspaper and know what is going on in the world. Although not every word is directly translatable, the overall meaning of the text is readily apparent. In other words, several different words can designate a single [[concept]].

== Branches of philology ==

== Branches of philology ==

=== Comparative philology ===

=== Comparative philology ===

One branch of philology is [[comparative linguistics]], which studies the relationship between languages. Similarities between [[Sanskrit]] and [[European languages]] were first noted in the early 16th century<ref>This fact is noted in Juan Mascaro's introduction to his translation of the ''Bhagavad Gita'', in which he dates the first ''Gita'' translation to 1785 (by Charles Williams). Mascaro claims Alexander Hamilton stopped in Paris in 1802 after returning from India, and taught Sanskrit to the German critic Friedrich von Schlegel. Mascaro says this is the beginning of modern study of the roots of the Indo-European languages.</ref> and led to the speculation of a common ancestor language from which all of these descended — now named [[Proto-Indo-European language|Proto-Indo-European]]. Philology's interest in ancient languages led to the study of what were in the 18th century "exotic" languages for the light they could cast on problems in understanding and [[decipher]]ing the origins of older texts.

One branch of philology is [[comparative linguistics]], which studies the relationship between languages. Similarities between [[Sanskrit]] and [[European languages]] were first noted in the early 16th century. This fact is noted in Juan Mascaro's introduction to his translation of the ''Bhagavad Gita'', in which he dates the first ''Gita'' translation to 1785 (by Charles Williams). Mascaro claims Alexander Hamilton stopped in Paris in 1802 after returning from India, and taught Sanskrit to the German critic Friedrich von Schlegel. Mascaro says this is the beginning of modern study of the roots of the Indo-European languages.</ref> and led to the speculation of a common ancestor language from which all of these descended — now named [[Proto-Indo-European language|Proto-Indo-European]]. Philology's interest in ancient languages led to the study of what were in the 18th century "exotic" languages for the light they could cast on problems in understanding and [[decipher]]ing the origins of older texts.

=== Radical philology ===

=== Radical philology ===

Work still continues on scripts such as [[Maya hieroglyphics]] (with great progress made in the late 20th century) and [[Etruscan language|Etruscan]].

Work still continues on scripts such as [[Maya hieroglyphics]] (with great progress made in the late 20th century) and [[Etruscan language|Etruscan]].

== External links ==

== External links ==

*[https://arabicgems.wordpress.com/ Arabic Gems] Arabic philology.

*[http://arabicgems.wordpress.com/ Arabic Gems] Arabic philology.

* [https://www.unizar.es/departamentos/filologia_inglesa/garciala/bibliography.html A Bibliography of Literary Theory, Criticism, and Philology (ed. José Ángel García Landa, University of Zaragoza, Spain)]

* [http://www.unizar.es/departamentos/filologia_inglesa/garciala/bibliography.html A Bibliography of Literary Theory, Criticism, and Philology (ed. José Ángel García Landa, University of Zaragoza, Spain)]

*[https://ruthenia.ru/tiutcheviana/search/en/index.html Philology in Runet] -(A special web search through the philological sites of [[Runet]])

*[http://ruthenia.ru/tiutcheviana/search/en/index.html Philology in Runet] -(A special web search through the philological sites of [[Runet]])

*[https://ajif-ucm.com/ Asociación de Jóvenes Investigadores Filólogos de la Universidad Complutense de Madrid (AJIF-UCM)]

*[http://ajif-ucm.com/ Asociación de Jóvenes Investigadores Filólogos de la Universidad Complutense de Madrid (AJIF-UCM)]

[[Category: General Reference]]

[[Category: General Reference]]

[[Category: Philology]]

[[Category: Philology]]