McNeely, Ian F.2017-11-142017-11-142011-10-06Ritsumeikan Studies in Language and Culture 23 no. 2 (October 2011): 129-47https://hdl.handle.net/1794/2296818 pagesAt a time when systematic knowledge of the world’s languages first became possible, Wilhelm von Humboldt (1767-1835) cast language as a vehicle to study the human mind and interpret human cultural difference. Long recognized as a canonical theorist, Humboldt also conducted massive empirical research through a global correspondence network bringing him reports from six continents on dozens of languages. He occupied a brief, fascinating moment in world history just before the globalization of knowledge was reshaped by the professionalization of scholarship.en-USCreative Commons BY-NC-ND 4.0-USWilhelm von Humboldt world historyArticle