Language and State

An Inquiry into the Progress of Civilization

Xing Yu

This book argues that a primitive society is formed on the basis of kinship ties while a civilized society is formed on the basis of linguistic communication. When humans communicate with each other through language, they extend the distance of communication. The extension of communication distance helps expand communities. States are gradually formed. This means that as these communities grow, they become too large to be supported only by the ties of kinship. The use of language and the development of linguistic communication underlies the establishment of governments, the introduction of laws, the holding of elections, and the flourishing of history, philosophy, literature, art, religion, etc. This book presents a new theory about the importance of language in the growth of the states.

University Press of America

Pages: 460 • Trim: 6¼ x 9¼

978-0-7618-6200-0 • Hardback • September 2013 • $126.00 • (£97.00)

978-0-7618-6201-7 • eBook • September 2013 • $119.50 • (£92.00)

Subjects: Political Science / World / General, Political Science / General, Philosophy / Language, Political Science / Commentary & Opinion, Political Science / Essays, Language Arts & Disciplines / Linguistics / Applied Linguistics, Philosophy / Critical Thinking

Language and State

An Inquiry into the Progress of Civilization

Hardback

eBook

Summary

This book argues that a primitive society is formed on the basis of kinship ties while a civilized society is formed on the basis of linguistic communication. When humans communicate with each other through language, they extend the distance of communication. The extension of communication distance helps expand communities. States are gradually formed. This means that as these communities grow, they become too large to be supported only by the ties of kinship. The use of language and the development of linguistic communication underlies the establishment of governments, the introduction of laws, the holding of elections, and the flourishing of history, philosophy, literature, art, religion, etc. This book presents a new theory about the importance of language in the growth of the states.

Details

University Press of America

Pages: 460 • Trim: 6¼ x 9¼

978-0-7618-6200-0 • Hardback • September 2013 • $126.00 • (£97.00)

978-0-7618-6201-7 • eBook • September 2013 • $119.50 • (£92.00)

Subjects: Political Science / World / General, Political Science / General, Philosophy / Language, Political Science / Commentary & Opinion, Political Science / Essays, Language Arts & Disciplines / Linguistics / Applied Linguistics, Philosophy / Critical Thinking

Author

Xing Yu is a political scientist who taught at two universities in China in the 1980s and 1990s. He obtained a bachelor’s degree in art from Sichuan Foreign Languages Institute in Chongqing, China in 1982, and a master’s degree in law from Fudan University in Shanghai, China in 1985. He now works as a freelance writer and translator in British Columbia, Canada.

Table of Contents

Prologue
Part One Language and State Formation
Introduction
Chapter One: People
Chapter Two: Community
Chapter Three: Nation
Chapter Four: State
Part Two Language and State Governance
Introduction
Chapter Five: Appellation
Chapter Six: Constitution
Chapter Seven: Election
Chapter Eight: Representation
Chapter Nine: Government
Part Three Language and State Spirit
Introduction
Chapter Ten: History
Chapter Eleven: Philosophy
Chapter Twelve: Literature and Art
Chapter Thirteen: Religion
Chapter Fourteen: Law
Conclusion
Epilogue
Bibliography
Acknowledgments
Index
About the Author

Language and State

An Inquiry into the Progress of Civilization

Xing Yu

Language and State

An Inquiry into the Progress of Civilization

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