古英語研究を考える : 一つの視点

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Based on a lecture delivered for the Japan Society for Medieval English Studies, this essay argues for a philological (as opposed to linguistic) approach, which in my view is essential for considering current issues in the study of Old English and the history of English generally. The essay consists of three sections. The first section discusses the approach in general terms, seeing it as part of what has been described by Shigeru Ono as 'philological history' (as distinct from 'linguistic history') of English. The second section illustrates this view by examining a few areas that are found, from this point of view, to provide interesting problems of syntax and style in the use of direct and indirect discourse in different genres of literary works, including homilies (AElfrician and anonymous), the romance Apollonius of Tyre, and Beowulf. The last section discusses how to discover a problem of any importance for one's study of Old English, with examples taken from my own past publication and Fred C. Robinson's study of the Maldon poem, and concludes with a reference to Leo Spitzer's 'philol ogical circle' as an eloquent declaration of the position I subscribe to.
2007-04-01