Comparative Terms: Historical Semantics of Comparison (16th–21st Century) (E01 [C03])

This subproject explores the semantics and pragmatic functions of vocabularies denoting comparison and of comparison-performing sentences in important European languages from early modernity to the contemporary age. Our main target for the second phase is in depth-studies on (1) claims of incomparability in discourses about God, love, and presumably unique historical events (e.g. the Shoah), (2) practices of comparing in the genre of utopias and dystopias (16th–21st century), and (3) practices of comparing in British and German parliamentary debates (20th century).

DFG Programme Collaborative Research Centres

Subproject of SFB 1288:  Practices of comparisons: Ordering and changing the world

Applicant Institution Universität Bielefeld

Project Head Professor Dr. Willibald Steinmetz