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Article published In: Historiographia Linguistica
Vol. 47:2/3 (2020) ► pp.137–168

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An ablative for the Greeks?

A grammar dispute in Tübingen (1585/1586) and its implications

 | Center for the Historiography of Linguistics, KU Leuven | University of Oslo
Published online: 7 April 2021
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https://doi.org/10.1075/hl.00067.roo
Summary
In this article, I discuss a grammar dispute that took place between Philipp Nicodemus Frischlin and Martin Crusius in Tübingen in the winter of 1585/1586. I argue that their diverging views on the ablative case reflect a disagreement on two levels, in addition to their obvious personal rivalry: (1) the foundations of grammar, which Frischlin based on meaning rather than form, following J. C. Scaliger, and (2) contrasting attitudes toward the Greek people and heritage. Additionally, I discuss Frischlin’s views on the article and the optative mood, while also tracing a popular misquote from Scaliger’s work to Frischlin.
Résumé
Dans cette contribution, nous analysons une controverse grammaticale qui eut lieu à Tübingen pendant l’hiver de 1585/1586 entre Philipp Nicodemus Frischlin et Martin Crusius. Nous démontrons que leur différence de position sur le cas ablatif reflète, outre leur évidente rivalité personnelle, un désaccord sur deux plans : (1) les fondements de la grammaire, que Frischlin établit, à l’instar de J. C. Scaliger, sur la sémantique plutôt que sur la forme, et (2) des attitudes opposées à l’égard des Grecs et de leur héritage. De plus, nous discutons les idées de Frischlin sur les catégories de l’article et de l’optatif, et montrons qu’il est la source d’une citation déformée de Scaliger qui a été colportée ensuite.
Zusammenfassung
Dieser Beitrag analysiert einen Grammatikstreit, der im Winter 1585/1586 in Tübingen zwischen Philipp Nikodemus Frischlin und Martin Crusius stattfand. Wir behaupten, dass ihre unterschiedlichen Ansichten zum Ablativkasus eine Meinungsverschiedenheit auf zwei Ebenen widerspiegeln, neben ihrer offensichtlichen persönlichen Rivalität: (1) die Grundlagen der Grammatik, die Frischlin in J. C. Scaligers Spuren eher auf Semantik als auf Form gründete, und (2) eine gegensätzliche Einstellung zum griechischen Volk und Erbe. Zusätzlich besprechen wir Frischlins Ansichten zum Artikel und Optativ und führen wir den Ursprung eines falschen Scaliger-Zitats zu Frischlin zurück.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Context: The ablative and Renaissance grammatical thought
  • 3.Frischlin’s Greek ablative
  • 4.Beyond the ablative: The article and the optative
  • 5.By way of conclusion: The ablative as smoking gun
  • 6.Appendix – The Greek article as flabellum: A bon mot and its vicissitudes
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • References
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Cited by one other publication

Van Rooy, Raf
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