Langue(s) et utopie – II : La langue de l’Autre dans la littérature grecque et dans la réflexion utopique, en particulier

This paper follows on from our previous text, “Language(s) and Utopia. I”. Its aim is to present what is known from the Aliens’ languages, from the constructed languages in Ancient Greece, and especially from the utopian languages. First, the paper points out how diff...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Nicole Guilleux
Format: Article
Language:fra
Published: Presses universitaires de Caen 2010-12-01
Series:Kentron
Subjects:
Online Access:http://journals.openedition.org/kentron/1416
_version_ 1818613185555464192
author Nicole Guilleux
author_facet Nicole Guilleux
author_sort Nicole Guilleux
collection DOAJ
description This paper follows on from our previous text, “Language(s) and Utopia. I”. Its aim is to present what is known from the Aliens’ languages, from the constructed languages in Ancient Greece, and especially from the utopian languages. First, the paper points out how difficult it is to study such a topic, because of the huge gap in the sources and of the burdensome literary conventions, because Greek people have had an uninterested (if not contemptuous) attitude towards the Aliens and their languages, which is reflected in the ambiguous lexicon for multilingualism and for oral translation. One must nevertheless emphasize the sophists’ open-mindedness in the respect of linguistic concerns. Secondly, the tradition has provided us with few testimonies, confirming only that literary jargons did exist (those of the onomatotherai, gathered by Atheneus) as well as a universal language based on gests (in the Roman world at least). On the other hand, facts are more tricky to be established as far as prophetic or tragic delusion and the “language of gods” are concerned. Lastly, regarding the utopian fictions, one must stress how scarce the mentions related to Aliens’ languages are. Some involve Egypt and its sacred writing system, that play a crucial role in the narrative framework introducing the Atlantis myth by Plato or in the inscription topos by Euhemerus. A single fiction, The Fortunate Island by Iambulos, includes significant linguistic developments, which is not surprising from a utopia inspired by stoicism.
first_indexed 2024-12-16T15:58:06Z
format Article
id doaj.art-5ec8d763a6e645fb8ea33ebe294a777c
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 0765-0590
2264-1459
language fra
last_indexed 2024-12-16T15:58:06Z
publishDate 2010-12-01
publisher Presses universitaires de Caen
record_format Article
series Kentron
spelling doaj.art-5ec8d763a6e645fb8ea33ebe294a777c2022-12-21T22:25:31ZfraPresses universitaires de CaenKentron0765-05902264-14592010-12-012614719010.4000/kentron.1416Langue(s) et utopie – II : La langue de l’Autre dans la littérature grecque et dans la réflexion utopique, en particulierNicole GuilleuxThis paper follows on from our previous text, “Language(s) and Utopia. I”. Its aim is to present what is known from the Aliens’ languages, from the constructed languages in Ancient Greece, and especially from the utopian languages. First, the paper points out how difficult it is to study such a topic, because of the huge gap in the sources and of the burdensome literary conventions, because Greek people have had an uninterested (if not contemptuous) attitude towards the Aliens and their languages, which is reflected in the ambiguous lexicon for multilingualism and for oral translation. One must nevertheless emphasize the sophists’ open-mindedness in the respect of linguistic concerns. Secondly, the tradition has provided us with few testimonies, confirming only that literary jargons did exist (those of the onomatotherai, gathered by Atheneus) as well as a universal language based on gests (in the Roman world at least). On the other hand, facts are more tricky to be established as far as prophetic or tragic delusion and the “language of gods” are concerned. Lastly, regarding the utopian fictions, one must stress how scarce the mentions related to Aliens’ languages are. Some involve Egypt and its sacred writing system, that play a crucial role in the narrative framework introducing the Atlantis myth by Plato or in the inscription topos by Euhemerus. A single fiction, The Fortunate Island by Iambulos, includes significant linguistic developments, which is not surprising from a utopia inspired by stoicism.http://journals.openedition.org/kentron/1416Plato’s Atlantis(prophetic or tragic) delusionLucian’s Verae HistoriaeIambulosliterary jargonlanguage of gods
spellingShingle Nicole Guilleux
Langue(s) et utopie – II : La langue de l’Autre dans la littérature grecque et dans la réflexion utopique, en particulier
Kentron
Plato’s Atlantis
(prophetic or tragic) delusion
Lucian’s Verae Historiae
Iambulos
literary jargon
language of gods
title Langue(s) et utopie – II : La langue de l’Autre dans la littérature grecque et dans la réflexion utopique, en particulier
title_full Langue(s) et utopie – II : La langue de l’Autre dans la littérature grecque et dans la réflexion utopique, en particulier
title_fullStr Langue(s) et utopie – II : La langue de l’Autre dans la littérature grecque et dans la réflexion utopique, en particulier
title_full_unstemmed Langue(s) et utopie – II : La langue de l’Autre dans la littérature grecque et dans la réflexion utopique, en particulier
title_short Langue(s) et utopie – II : La langue de l’Autre dans la littérature grecque et dans la réflexion utopique, en particulier
title_sort langue s et utopie ii la langue de l autre dans la litterature grecque et dans la reflexion utopique en particulier
topic Plato’s Atlantis
(prophetic or tragic) delusion
Lucian’s Verae Historiae
Iambulos
literary jargon
language of gods
url http://journals.openedition.org/kentron/1416
work_keys_str_mv AT nicoleguilleux languesetutopieiilalanguedelautredanslalitteraturegrecqueetdanslareflexionutopiqueenparticulier