Herderov nagradni spis i rasprave o podrijetlu jezika u 18. stoljeću
Herder’s Prize Essay and the Discussions on the Origin of Language in the 18th Century

Summary/Abstract: In 1771 the Berlin Academy has announced a prize essay on the topic of the origin of language in order to finally resolve the long-standing dispute between those in favour of the theory of the human origin of language (Condillac, Maupertuis, Turgot, De Brosses, Rousseau, Diderot, Du Marsais, Prémontval et. al.), and those approving of the theory of the divine origin of language (Warburton, Süßmilch, Hamann, Formey, Beauzée et. al.). Additionally, it was a dispute between popular naturalistic and sensualistic philosophy and until that time dominant dogmatic order. Herder’s essay has won the award and his original ideas have in a way finalized a period of discussions that had begun as early as the second half of the 17th century, with the release of the Port-Royal Grammar, and the philosophies of Leibniz and Locke. In order to resolve the dispute, Herder has embarked on the path between the opposing ideas of the natural and the supernatural order and has placed the human essence in the focus of discussion on language. The topics of discussion included questions concerning the relationship between language and opinions, questions concerning origin of language, its history and its development, and the question of “proto-language”.

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