Language, Science and Globalization in the Eighteenth Century

Area of Science:

• Historical Linguistics
• History of Science
• Global Studies

Background:

• Centuries of intellectual exchange between Asia, America, and Europe.
• European scholarly interest in non-European languages and cultures.
• Early attempts to create universal languages and establish language families.

Observation:

• Analysis of 18th-century multilingual lexical compilations for comparative linguistics.
• Examination of these compilations as an early form of globalized knowledge dissemination.
• Focus on projects designed by European scholars and executed by missionaries, explorers, and scientists in the Philippines and America.

Findings:

• Simultaneous linguistic projects pursued unified aims across diverse geographical locations.
• Correspondence networks involving figures like Mutis, Humboldt, Linnaeus, Malaspina, and Bustamante y Guerra reveal collaborative efforts.
• Multilingual lexical compilations significantly contributed to the comparative study of language in the late 18th century.

Implications:

• Highlights the interconnectedness of scientific endeavors in the 18th century.
• Demonstrates the role of colonial networks in early linguistic globalization.
• Underscores the foundational importance of these compilations for modern linguistic research and the history of science.