"Sprachansicht"

[MPhillips]

Was the term "Sprachansicht" (语言观) coined by W. von Humboldt? While he is said to be the father of this concept, the Eng.-lang. Wikipedia article about him says he used the term "Weltansicht" for it. (My German is too poor to do the research myself--also too lazy!).

[wibr]

Your post is now number 2 on google for "Sprachansicht", seems to be a philosophical term describing something related to the view you get by speaking a certain language (I think). Humboldt said that you can only expand your view outside your own language if you step into the circle of another language, but I am not sure if he actually used that term. In German it's very easy to create new words like this.

[MPhillips]

Yes, "Unabhängigkeitserklärung" is a neat one I learned in school, anyway can you propose an English translation for "Sprachansicht"? Thanks!

[wibr]

I would have to resort to the literal translation, "language view", since I can't even find a definition in German, just some context which I used to get a rough idea about this term...

[MPhillips]

Thank you!

[TheBigZaboon]

How about "language-centric view" or "language-centric outlook."

[Silent]

 

"language view"

I'ld prefer "lingual perspective"  analogous to the related "cultural perspective". To me a view is a 'picture' a perspective is more of a framework or angle from which to view things. A perspective can result in more then one view.

[MPhillips]

Thanks wibr, BigZaboon & Silent ! I just started reading one of my book giveaway books, when the author uses the term "语言观" I think he might be referring to a concept which originated with Wilhelm von Humboldt.