Simples machines ou chambres noires ? Typologie et hiérarchie des langues entre xviiie et xixe siècles

Abstract

Adam Smith and Giacomo Leopardi have made the criterion of complexity or simplicity the pivot for comparing languages. Through the same sources, mainly French, these two authors show us how adopting a hierarchical perspective or simply searching for common elements and differences between languages leads to completely different results. Smith established a relationship, almost a law, between simplicity and complexity. Instead, Leopardi used the same elements to develop a philosophy of languages as a comparison of the genius of languages based on linguistic practices.

Keywords

• comparison of languages
• genius of languages
• simplicity and complexity of languages
• hierarchical typologies
• Smith (Adam)
• Leopardi (Giacomo)