Edition of Wilhelm von Humboldt´s Linguistic Writings

This project is part of an international co-operation of researchers from Germany and the USA aiming at the complete historical-critical edition of Wilhelm von Humboldt`s Linguistic Writings at the Schöningh Verlag, funded by the Austrian FWF and the German DFG. The applicant is part of the main editor`s board and guided an earlier project on Humboldt`s Writings on Basque (funded by the FWF, P-11254-SPR, 1996-1998). Within the ongoing edition plus various volumes in a series called "Humboldt studies", Austrian project will do the following: 1. Basque section: The Basque section will be extended to three volumes. Excerpts and manuscripts on the Basque language from Humboldt`s legacy which are extremely important for Basque philology and the history of Humboldtian linguistics shall be published in a separate volume as a "Humboldt studies" volume at Schöningh Verlag (Charpentier, Freret, Astarloa). A further volume on the reception of Humboldt`s work by Basque scholars is planned. Due to the discovery of a Basque dictionary most probably having as its basis the lost Humboldtian one, further research is necessary. Since the complete edition of Humboldt`s linguistically relevant correspondence in a separate section of the edition proofed to be too complicated, the relevant correspondence of Humboldt with Basque and non-Basque philologists and linguists will be published within the Basque section. 2. Amerindian and Oceanic sections; As a member of the editorial board, the project applicant has additionally taken the responsibility for the following parts of the edition: For the Amerindian section, the Humboldtian material on Meso-American languages (section 3), especially Humboldt`s manuscript on Tarahumara and a word comparison table on Meso-American languages, including the historical-critical phonology of 10 Amerindian languages. For the Oceanic section, a first view on the materials and manuscripts has to be undertaken. The work on the Kawi language is the opus magnum of Humboldt; he and his secretary Buschmann left, however, thousands of pages on Kawi and other Oceanic languages, text variants of the work and especially its famous introduction ("Über die Verschiedenheit des menschlichen Sprachbaues..."). Digitalisation (Scanning) of the printed texts, and their correction according to the manuscripts shall be undertaken. 4. Paper edition and electronic edition: Additionally to the paper edition at Schöningh, the material will also be prepared for an electronic edition of the material both on CD and on the web. A web server with partially restricted access has been installed at our university and will finally host the complete Humboldt edition.