American Linguistics:
* Focus on Language Description and Structure: American linguistics, heavily influenced by the work of Leonard Bloomfield, was primarily concerned with describing and analyzing the structure of languages. This led to a strong emphasis on phonetics, phonology, morphology, and syntax, often using formal methods like generative grammar.
* Emphasis on Fieldwork and Native Languages: American linguists placed significant value on fieldwork, collecting data from speakers of diverse languages, especially Native American languages. This focus contributed to the development of descriptive linguistics and anthropological linguistics.
* "Behaviorism" and "Formalism": While American linguistics embraced scientific rigor, there was a debate between "behaviorist" approaches, which focused on observable language behavior, and "formalist" approaches, which explored abstract language structures.
* Practical Applications: American linguistics found practical application in areas like language teaching, speech therapy, and language policy.
European Linguistics:
* Focus on Language Change and History: European linguistics, often influenced by historical linguistics and comparative philology, placed a strong emphasis on studying the evolution of languages over time. This involved analyzing the historical relationships between languages and reconstructing ancestral languages.
* Linguistic Typology: European linguists explored the classification of languages based on their structural features, leading to the development of typological studies.
* Sociolinguistics and Language Variation: Interest in the social factors influencing language use and variation emerged in Europe, leading to the rise of sociolinguistics, which studied the relationship between language and society.
* Continental Philosophy and Linguistics: In Europe, linguistics was influenced by philosophical traditions, leading to the development of structuralism and poststructuralism, which explored the relationship between language and thought.
Important Considerations:
* Oversimplification: These are general trends, and many individual linguists in both regions challenged or transcended these boundaries.
* Interconnections: There was significant cross-fertilization between American and European linguistics. Many influential linguists had connections to both regions.
* Evolution: The differences between American and European linguistics have become less pronounced in recent decades, with a growing emphasis on interdisciplinary approaches and the integration of various theoretical perspectives.
Examples of Key Figures:
* American: Noam Chomsky, Leonard Bloomfield, Edward Sapir, Kenneth Pike
* European: Ferdinand de Saussure, Roman Jakobson, Émile Benveniste, Wilhelm von Humboldt
In Conclusion:
While there were distinct historical and methodological differences between American and European linguistics in the 20th century, these distinctions are less pronounced today. The field has become increasingly globalized, with scholars from different backgrounds contributing to a shared understanding of the nature and diversity of human language.