ABSTRACT
In his rendering (1940), Hans Heinrich Schaeder ascribes Oriental studies the task of bringing to light and acquiring intellectual values, which is rather similar to archaeology’s task of digging up and acquiring cultural valuables (artifacts). The resemblance bears witness to the transition that began at the end of the nineteenth century, making the pursuit of “mere” language studies seem insufficient. The focus on values may not only endow language studies with meaning, but also hinge scholarly pursuits on ideological commitments, as Schaeder’s discussion following the cited passage illustrates (1940: 3).
