Grammar in the ancient world: Early contributions between Platoand Aristotle

Abstract

This article provides a concise overview of the grammatical contents found in Platonic and Aristotelian philosophy through a highly circumscribed analysis of some crucial passages in their linguistic works, outlining logical, morphological, syntactic and etymological considerations. The paper is divided into 5 sections: 1. Why one cannot speak of grammar as a discipline before IV century BC; 2. Outlines of a grammatical theory. The linguistic-metaphysical reasons for the Cratylus; 3. Subject and predicate: the Sophist; 4. Aristotelian reflections: De interpr. 16A and Poetics’ Chapter XX; 5. Conclusions.