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Article published In: Historiographia Linguistica
Vol. 47:2/3 (2020) ► pp.303–321

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A letter from Zellig Harris to André Lentin

Explanatory notes

 | Edgartown, Massachusetts
Published online: 2 April 2021
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https://doi.org/10.1075/hl.00077.nev
Summary
Toward the end of his life, Zellig Harris (1909–1992) wrote a brief account of the origins and development of his work to establish the foundations of a science of language on mathematical principles. A French translation was published in 1990, and in the same publication appeared a parallel appraisal from a mathematical point of view by André Lentin (1913–2015). Early the following year, having reread Lentin’s essay several times, Harris wrote him the letter which is presented here. More than a gesture of thanks and appreciation, this letter further illuminates the comprehensive overview afforded by the two essays, both of which appeared in English in 2002.
Résumé
Vers la fin de sa vie, Zellig Harris (1909–1992) a écrit un bref compte rendu des origines et du développement de son travail pour établir les fondements d’une science du langage sur des principes mathématiques. Une traduction française en a été publiée en 1990, tandis que dans la même publication paraissait un bilan parallèle, fait d’un point de vue mathématique, sous la plume d’André Lentin (1913–2015). Au début de l’année suivante, après avoir relu plusieurs fois l’essai de Lentin, Harris lui écrivit la lettre qui est présentée ici. Plus qu’un geste de remerciement et d’appréciation, cette lettre jette un éclairage supplémentaire sur le panorama complet offert par les deux essais, tous deux parus en anglais en 2002.
Zusammenfassung
Gegen Ende seines Lebens schrieb Zellig Harris (1909–1992) einen kurzen Bericht über die Ursprünge und die Entwicklung seiner Arbeit, um die Grundlagen einer Sprachwissenschaft nach mathematischen Prinzipien zu schaffen. Eine französische Übersetzung wurde 1990 veröffentlicht, und in derselben Veröffentlichung erschien eine parallele Bewertung aus mathematischer Sicht von André Lentin (1913–2015). Am Anfang des darauffolgenden Jahres schrieb Harris ihm den Brief, der hier vorgestellt wird, nachdem er Lentins Aufsatz mehrmals gelesen hatte. Dieser Brief ist mehr als eine Geste des Dankes und der Wertschätzung. Er beleuchtet den umfassenden Überblick, den die beiden Aufsätze bieten, die beide 2002 in englischer Sprache erschienen sind.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Foundations of mathematics and of empirical science
    • 2.1Background
    • 2.2Constructivism, intuitionism, and tertium non datur
    • 2.3Finitism and recursive mathematics
    • 2.4On the homology with empirical science
  • 3.Grammar and its formalizations: Realism vs description
    • 3.1Properties of language, analytical methods, and formal descriptions
    • 3.2From abstract algebraic system to applicative calculus
    • 3.3Typed lambda calculus
    • 3.4Inconsistency as a challenge to finitism
  • 4.Formalization and finding further regularities in the data
    • 4.1Testing an axiomatization of grammar
    • 4.2Resolution of exception cases
    • 4.3Cryptomorphisms subject to “pertinence and linguistic transparency”
  • 5.Beyond operator grammar
  • 6.Conclusion
  • Notes
  • References
References (46)
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