The Philosophic Grammar of American Languages, as Set Forth by Wilhelm von Humboldt With the Translation of an Unpublished Memoir by Him on the American Verb

"The Philosophic Grammar of American Languages" by Wilhelm von Humboldt, as presented with commentary by Daniel G. Brinton, is a late 19th-century exploration of language that uses philosophy to peek into the heart of language creation and growth. It shows how Humboldt thought languages weren't just tools for talking, but living things connected to the minds and feelings of those that use them. Humboldt's work shines a light on what makes American languages in particular special, and uses them to look at language rules that appear in all human languages. The text introduces Humboldt's life work through what he thought about American language origins, and prepares us to look more closely at grammar, especially verbs, in American languages.