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Neophilologus (2014) 98:581598
DOI 10.1007/s11061-014-9387-3
C. A. Longhurst
Published online: 16 March 2014 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2014
Abstract Unamuno was trained as a philologist and held two language-related Chairs at the University of Salamanca. He not only devoted many of his essays to linguistic questions, but raised linguistic issues in essays ostensibly devoted to other topics. Such was his passion for words that he placed language at the heart of the many subjects that interested him: religion, philosophy, history, culture, identity, love, imagination, dreams Even thinking itself he considered to be language-driven. Is this view of the role of language really sustainable? Or did Unamunos creative view of language run away with him? This essay gives a succinct account of the intimate connection which Unamuno established between language and various subjects, including the emotions, and then goes on to offer a critique of Unamunos linguistic theory, ending with a brief explanation of Unamunos idiosyncratic stance.
Keywords Thought Identity History Religion Philosophy Imagination
Emotions
Unamuno is known for his extraordinary versatility as a writer and lecturer, and for his unusually wide range of interests: philosophy, psychology, politics, history, religion, literature But if there is a recurring interest in his writings, it is in language and the role of language in our lives. Philology was the discipline of his earliest training, and he of course held the Chair of Greek and later the Chair of the History of the Spanish Language at Salamanca. Had he not suffered defeat at the hands of Ramn Menndez Pidal in the Royal Spanish Academys 1893
C. A. Longhurst (&)
Emeritus Professor, University of Leeds, 17 Seymour Gardens, Kingston upon Thames, London KT5 8QE, UKe-mail: [email protected]
Unamunos Views on Language: A Critical Assessment
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competition on the language of the Cantar de mo Cid, Unamuno might well have developed into a full-blooded research philologist, but even if his disillusionment made him turn to other matters, he retained his interest in linguistics throughout his life. In his retirement speech of 29 September 1934 Unamuno, calling himself siempre el llogo!, chose to look back over his career by emphasizing his dedication to the business of language:
Y es lo que he venido haciendo en mi ctedra ocial aqu, con...