In this interview, Paul Kiparsky introduces us to the ancient Indian grammarian Pāṇini and the philosophical significance of his grammatical description of Sanskrit.
Read more ›Call for Papers: ICHoLS XVII, Niterói (Rio de Janeiro)
23–27 August 2027 — Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Organized by: Universidade Federal Fluminense
The 17th International Conference on the History of the Language Sciences (ICHoLS XVII) will take place from 23 to 27 August 2027 in Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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Posted in Uncategorized
Podcast episode 52: Gereon Müller on Lanes to Language
In this interview, Gereon Müller discusses his new book Lanes to Language, which unites the worlds of history of linguistics and cycling.
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Posted in Podcast
Cfp: Henry Sweet Society Colloquium 2026
The 2026 annual colloquium of the Henry Sweet Society for the History of Linguistic Ideas will be held on 2–4 September 2026 at the University of Nottingham, UK.
Confirmed plenary speaker: Cécile Van den Avenne (EHESS)
As ever, we cordially invite papers or panel proposals on any topic in the History of Linguistics and Linguistic Ideas and Practices, but the thematic focus of the colloquium is (Non-)Native Speakers in the History of Linguistic Ideas.
We invite contributions on the shifting role and status of the (non)native speaker and (non)native speakerness within the history of linguistic ideas. What might the history of linguistics offer past, present, and future perspectives on the (non-)native speaker? What contributions has the native speaker made to the history of linguistic thought?
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Posted in Conferences and workshops
Podcast episode 51: Martin Haspelmath
In this interview, Martin Haspelmath talks about how he got started in linguistics, the rise of large-scale areal typology in the 1990s, language description vs language comparison, and the current state of the field.
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Posted in Podcast
Recent publications in the history and philosophy of the language sciences – October 2025
Histoire Epistémologie Langage 47(1). 2025. Grammaticalisation : histoire et perspectives, dossier thématique sous la direction de Benjamin Fagard. Paris: SHESL. 340 p. ISSN: 0750-8069
Publisher’s website
Journal in open access
Hommage
Wolf Feuerhahn
Claude Blanckaert (1952-2024)
Grammaticalisation : histoire et perspectives
Dossier thématique dirigé par Benjamin Fagard
Benjamin Fagard
La grammaticalisation : une perspective diachronique
Présentation du dossier
Cendrine Pagani-Naudet
La grammaticalisation et l’histoire de l’histoire des futurs romans
Gerda Hassler
Grammaticalisation avant la lettre : contribution de la pensée linguistique des XVIIIe et XIXe siècles à la compréhension de la grammaticalisation
Posted in Publications
Podcast episode 50: Gerda Haßler
In this interview, Gerda Haßler discusses her career in Romanistik and the history of linguistics in the DDR and re-united Germany.
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Posted in Podcast
Podcast episode 49: Fritz Newmeyer
In this interview, Fritz Newmeyer discusses linguistics, history of linguistics, and politics.
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Posted in Podcast
Jobs: LMU docs and postdocs in philology
The Cluster of Excellence Cross-Cultural Philology has just been launched at the LMU in Munich. The research cluster takes a cross-cultural approach to the study of philological practices and cultural dynamics over a 5,000-year period.
They are now advertising a staggering number of doctoral and postdoctoral positions: https://www.lmu.de/crossculturalphilology/en/research/research-areas/all-projects/
Posted in Announcements, Jobs and funding
CHSTM History of Language Sciences autumn program 2025
CHSTM Working group History of the Language Sciences. Meetings online, September 2025–May 2026
The CHSTM working group on the history of the language sciences holds online seminars every month on topics related to the history of linguistics and neighbouring fields. Our program for autumn 2025 begins next week, on 23 Sept. The planned meetings are
23 Sept – John Goldsmith (U Chicago)
14 Oct – Gonçalo Fernandes (UTAD: Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro)
11 Nov – Adrianna Link (American Philosophical Society)
9 Dec – Bernhard Hurch (Graz University)
Full details and information on how to join the meetings can be found
on the group’s webpage: https://www.chstm.org/group/history-language-sciences
Posted in Announcements, Conferences and workshops
History and Philosophy of the Language Sciences 