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Wilhelm von Humboldt and Transcultural Communication in a Multicultural World
Translating Humanity
-
John Walker
Language:
English
Published/Copyright:
2022
About this book
Shows that the work of Wilhelm von Humboldt (1767-1835) forms a philosophy of dialogue and communication that is crucially relevant to contemporary debates in the Humanities.
Wilhelm von Humboldt (1767-1835) is the progenitor of modern linguistics and the originator of the modern teaching and research university. However, his work has received remarkably little attention in the English-speaking world. Humboldt conceives language as the source of cognition as well as communication, both rooted in the possibility of human dialogue. In the same way, his idea of the university posits the free encounter between radically different personalities as the source of education for freedom. For Humboldt, both linguistic and intellectual communication are predicated firstly on dialogue between persons, which is the prerequisite for all intercultural understanding.
Linking Humboldt's concept of dialogue to his idea of translation between languages, persons, and cultures, this book shows how Humboldt's thought is of great contemporary relevance. Humboldt shows a way beyond the false alternatives of "culturalism" (the demand that a plurality of cultural and faith-based traditions be recognized as sources of ethical and political legitimacy in the modern world) and "universalism" (the assertion of the primacy of a universal culture of human rights and the renewal of the European Enlightenment project). John Walker explains how Humboldt's work emerges from the intellectual conflicts of his time and yet directly addresses the concerns of our own post-secular and multicultural age.
Wilhelm von Humboldt (1767-1835) is the progenitor of modern linguistics and the originator of the modern teaching and research university. However, his work has received remarkably little attention in the English-speaking world. Humboldt conceives language as the source of cognition as well as communication, both rooted in the possibility of human dialogue. In the same way, his idea of the university posits the free encounter between radically different personalities as the source of education for freedom. For Humboldt, both linguistic and intellectual communication are predicated firstly on dialogue between persons, which is the prerequisite for all intercultural understanding.
Linking Humboldt's concept of dialogue to his idea of translation between languages, persons, and cultures, this book shows how Humboldt's thought is of great contemporary relevance. Humboldt shows a way beyond the false alternatives of "culturalism" (the demand that a plurality of cultural and faith-based traditions be recognized as sources of ethical and political legitimacy in the modern world) and "universalism" (the assertion of the primacy of a universal culture of human rights and the renewal of the European Enlightenment project). John Walker explains how Humboldt's work emerges from the intellectual conflicts of his time and yet directly addresses the concerns of our own post-secular and multicultural age.
Author / Editor information
Contributor: John Walker
JOHN WALKER is Emeritus Reader in German Intellectual History at Birkbeck College, University of London, and teaches at the University of Cambridge.
Reviews
The first half of John Walker's book serves as a good introduction to Humboldt's thinking as the founder of modern historical and comparative philology.
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In keeping with the value that Humboldt ascribes to open communication, Walker's argument is dialogic throughout, consisting of careful summaries of works by critics, philosophers, and theologians, followed
by judicious critique. --- In its breadth and depth, this book magisterially attends to the contemporary importance and significance of Wilhelm von Humboldt and his works in his own times and ours. What makes this capacious study perhaps most distinctive is that Walker's publication through English widens access to Humboldt's reprioritization of non-European vernaculars and speakers in the communication of new knowledge. --- This book is not only an important contribution to the Anglo-American scholarship on Wilhelm von Humboldt. It also constitutes an inspiring enrichment of a multitude of contemporary debates of high social and political relevance and thus demonstrates the prime importance of Humanities research for our time. --- The book goes far beyond being a significant contribution to Humboldt studies in English; it is an inspiring enrichment for a wide range of contemporary debates of great social and political importance.
Das Buch geht weit über einen bedeutenden Beitrag zur Humboldt-Forschung in englischer Sprache hinaus; es ist eine inspirierende Bereicherung für eine Vielzahl zeitgenössischer Debatten von großer sozialer und politischer Bedeutung.
by judicious critique. --- In its breadth and depth, this book magisterially attends to the contemporary importance and significance of Wilhelm von Humboldt and his works in his own times and ours. What makes this capacious study perhaps most distinctive is that Walker's publication through English widens access to Humboldt's reprioritization of non-European vernaculars and speakers in the communication of new knowledge. --- This book is not only an important contribution to the Anglo-American scholarship on Wilhelm von Humboldt. It also constitutes an inspiring enrichment of a multitude of contemporary debates of high social and political relevance and thus demonstrates the prime importance of Humanities research for our time. --- The book goes far beyond being a significant contribution to Humboldt studies in English; it is an inspiring enrichment for a wide range of contemporary debates of great social and political importance.
Das Buch geht weit über einen bedeutenden Beitrag zur Humboldt-Forschung in englischer Sprache hinaus; es ist eine inspirierende Bereicherung für eine Vielzahl zeitgenössischer Debatten von großer sozialer und politischer Bedeutung.
Topics
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Frontmatter
i -
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Contents
vii -
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Preface
ix -
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A Note on Texts
xi -
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List of Abbreviations
xii -
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Introduction
1 -
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1: Humboldt and the Dialectic of Enlightenment: Language, Culture, and Freedom
20 -
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2: Language, Dialogue, and Translation: The Human Relevance of the Comparative Study of Language
61 -
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3: Language Interaction and Language Change: Humboldt on the Kawi Language of Java
81 -
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4: Humboldt, “Orientalism,” and Understanding the Other
92 -
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5: Humboldt, Translation, and Dialogue between Faiths: Emmanuel Levinas, Stanley Hauerwas, and Shahab Ahmed
106 -
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6: Scriptural Reasoning: Dialogue and Translation in Practice
154 -
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7: Secularity and Communities of Faith in the Public Sphere
171 -
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8: Wilhelm von Humboldt: Translation, Dialogue, and the Modern University
189 -
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Bibliography
229 -
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Index
243
Publishing information
Pages and Images/Illustrations in book
eBook published on:
January 4, 2024
eBook ISBN:
9781800102484
Original publisher:
Camden House
Pages and Images/Illustrations in book
eBook ISBN:
9781800102484
Keywords for this book
Wilhelm von Humboldt; transcultural communication; multicultural world; dialogue; communication philosophy; contemporary debates; Humanities; modern linguistics; research university; language; intercultural understanding; universal culture; Enlightenment project; post-secular; multicultural age
Audience(s) for this book
For an expert adult audience, including professional development and academic research
