The Value of Language in Science

Today on the podcast is Dr James McElvenny, historian and philosopher of linguistics, discussing the topic of language and science.

As James points out in this episode, intersections between language, the language sciences and science are many and varied. 

For example, James introduces us to the ways in which the study of language and the study of science have interacted in history, in particular through famous figures in the philosophy of science such as Wittgenstein and Carnap. 

James also makes the important point that while there are many practical reasons to study language or science or HPS -  there is also much to be said about studying them for their inherent interest and their value in making us better-developed people, or as they say in Germany: ‘Gebildet’.

As well as working and teaching in this space, James runs his own very successful podcast  - The History and Philosophy of the Language Sciences. The podcast and blog can be found via the website at https://hiphilangsci.net/

Some links relevant to this episode can be found below:

• James McElvenny's personal website: https://www.jamesmcelvenny.net/
• James McElvenny's A History of Modern Linguistics
• Podcast: History of Philosophy without Any Gaps
• Book: Michael Gordin, Scientific Babel: How Science was done Before and After Global English
• Book: Stephen G. Alter Darwinism and the Linguistic Image
• HiPhiLangSci Ep5: On August Schleicher and comparative-historical linguistics
• HiPhiLangSci Ep15: On Jakobson and the Prague Circle

A full transcript of the episode can be found here: https://www.hpsunimelb.org/post/episode-11-transcript

Thanks for listening to The HPS Podcast. You can find more about us on our website, Bluesky, Instagram and Facebook feeds. 

This podcast would not be possible without the support of School of Historical and Philosophical Studies at the University of Melbourne and the Hansen Little Public Humanities Grant scheme.

Music by ComaStudio.
Website HPS Podcast | hpsunimelb.org