Metafore ale diversității lingvistice în teoria lui Humboldt
Metaphors of linguistic diversity in Humboldt's theory

Summary/Abstract: Humboldt's theory on language diversity remains highly relevant and important in today's world. Many recent studies in the field of linguistics conclude that a rediscovery and reassessment of Humboldtian concepts and theory are necessary for the understanding of certain contemporary cultural aspects, such as the relationship between language and national identity, and the importance of plurilingualism and multilingualism in an era of globalization. Humboldt's theory emphasises that language is not a tool for communication, but a reflection of unique cultural worldviews. Each language is unique, representing a creation of the linguistic community, manifested and crystallised over time, during the process of historical development. Such language uniqueness is revealed not only on a phonetic, morphological and syntactical level, but also on a semantic level; at the level of internal configuration of meanings ("inner form”). Thus, each language embodies a specific set of values, beliefs and traditions. Each language is, above all, a creative interpretation of the world and, thereby, it provides the speaker with a specific "worldview”. This theory highlights the invaluable contributions that diverse cultures and languages bring to our collective human experience. Thus, this paper aims to present and analyse metaphors used by Humboldt (language as a world, as a lens, as a circle, as a network) to describe linguistic diversity and its significance within his broader theory of language. The role of these metaphors is to reveal, through expressive analogies, the importance of linguistic diversity.

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