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Article published In: Historiographia Linguistica
Vol. 36:1 (2009) ► pp.75–95

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Francis Whyte Ellis and the Beginning of Comparative Dravidian Linguistics

 | Dravidian University
Published online: 6 April 2009
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https://doi.org/10.1075/hl.36.1.04sre
Summary
This article assesses Francis Whyte Ellis’s (1777–1819) “Note to the Introduction” to Alexander Duncan Campbell’s (1789–1857) Grammar of the Teloogoo Language (1816) in the context of the history of comparative linguistics in India. The idea of a ‘South Indian family of languages’, later named ‘Dravidian’ by Robert Caldwell in 1856, was first proposed by Ellis in 1816, and so a case could be made to claim for him the beginnings of a comparative methodology in the study of Dravidian languages. Until now, in the history of comparative Dravidian linguistics Caldwell (1814–1891) has been celebrated as the pioneer in this field. The present study attempts to establish Ellis’s rightful place in this history by critically evaluating his contribution. The careful examination of the data presented by Ellis indeed suggests that he should be regarded as the discoverer of the Dravidian family of languages well before Caldwell.
Résumé
Dans cet article on évalue la “Note introductoire” qu’a écrite Francis Whyte Ellis (1777–1819) pour l’ouvrage d’Alexander Ducan Campbell (1789–1857), Grammar of the Teloogoo Language (1816): évaluation qui prend pour cadre l’histoire de la grammaire comparée en Inde. C’est Ellis qui, le premier, a proposé l’idée d’une ‘famille linguistique de l’Inde méridionale’, que Caldwell appellera plus tard ‘Dravidienne’ (en 1856): on pourrait donc soutenir qu’Ellis serait le véritable initiateur d’une méthode comparée appliquée aux langues dravidiennes. Jusqu’à présent c’est Caldwell (1814–1891) qui, dans l’histoire de la linguistique comparée des langues dravidennes, a eu le statut de fondateur de ce domaine. Cette étude cherche à rendre à Ellis sa juste place dans cette histoire au moyen d’une évaluation critique de ce qu’il a produit. En examinant de près les données offertes par Ellis, il semble bien qu’il faille voir en lui celui qui, bien avant Caldwell, a découvert la famille des langues dravidiennes.
Zusammenfassung
In diesem Beitrag geht es um Francis Whyte Ellis (1777–1819) und seine “Note to the Introduction” zur Grammar of the Teloogoo Language (1816) von Alexander Duncan Campbell (1789–1857)] sowie deren Beziehung zur Geschichte der vergleichenden Sprachwissenschaft in Indien. Die Idee einer ‘Südindischen Sprachfamilie’, 1856 von Robert Caldwell ‘Dravidisch’ genannt, war 1816 bereits von Ellis vorgeschlagen worden, dessen Studien daher mit Recht als Anfang der vergleichenden dravidischen Sprachwissenschaft angesehen werden können. Bislang wurde allerdings Caldwell (1814–1891) als ihr Begründer genannt. Die vorliegende Untersuchung unternimmt den Versuch, Ellis wohlverdienten Platz in dieser Geschichte durch eine genaue Sichtung seines wissenschaftlichen Beitrages darzulegen. Eine Analyse seiner Schriften legt es in der Tat nahe, ihn und nicht Caldwell als den Entdecker der dravidischen Sprachfamilie anzusehen.
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Asher, R. E.
2010.  The Madras School of Orientalism: Producing knowledge in colonial South India. Edited by Thomas R. Trautmann. Historiographia Linguistica 37:1-2 ► pp. 226 ff. DOI logo

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