ABSTRACT
Given enough background knowledge and determination, we can trace most ideas back to earlier ones, or can at least see that they have their origins in some notion that was present in earlier work. This volume is primarily concerned with one particular approach to the study of language, Systemic Functional Linguistics. In many respects this is unique, but it has its origins in the work of earlier scholars. It is informative to consider what these are, and it may also be of interest to see how SFL differs from some other approaches.
12.2 Before the twentieth century There is a long history of ideas about language. Perhaps it might be more accurate to say that there are numerous histories, with various traditions in different cultures (Western, Middle Eastern and Far Eastern) and different preoccupations and purposes. These histories are complex and not always distinct from each other.
