The edition and reception history of Hermann Paul's Prinzipien
What is it about?
Hermann Paul's Prinzipien is an important work in the history of linguistics. This paper has revealed for the first time some little noticed aspects about the evolution of this book through its five editions and its impacts. Under the influence of the scholarly interactions, Paul has modified some of his statements on the general linguistic issues in the book. These discussions between Paul and his recipients are also an important context of the emergence of modern linguistics.
Why is it important?
Although Hermann Paul’s Prinzipien has been extensively studied with regards to its modern linguistic ideas and its influence in the history of linguistics, little attention has been paid to its abundant history of edition and reception. This paper shows that the first five editions of the Prinzipien have different historical statuses. Therefore, we should be aware of the differences in the research of linguistic historiography.