古罗马语言学一瞥

Three Figures in the History of Roman Linguistics:Lucretius,Quintilian,S. Augustine

本文述介三位古罗马学者的语言观。卢克莱修(Titus Lucretius Carus)著有《物性论》,论及语言的发生,注意到语言的物理属性;昆提连(Marcus Fabius Quintilianus)有名作《演说原理》传世,探讨论辩修辞,倡导双语教学,对语言教育理论和实践贡献很大;奥古斯丁(Saint Augustine)是罗马及至中世纪最富哲学思想的基督教神学家,在《忏悔录》中思及语言、思维与世界的关系。

This paper gives a critical estimate of three Roman scholars＇ views on language. Starting from a materialistic viewpoint and writing in poetic form, T. Lucretius （99 - 55 BC） thought about the origin of language and its physical nature, especially the formation and spread of speech sound. In The Orator＇ s Education, M. F. Quintilian （35 - 95 AD） discussed the theory and practice of oratory as well as language education. Saint Augustine （354 - 430 AD）, a theologist particularly interested in linguistic matters, contemplated the problems of language acquisition and language-thought relationship.