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59
Sacred Languages of the World
An Introduction
Brian P. Bennett
ISBN: 978-1-118-97078-2 | Sep 2017 | 240PP
Religion
A fascinating comparative account of sacred languages and their role in and
beyond religion — written for a broad, interdisciplinary audience
Sacred languages have been used for foundational texts, liturgy, and ritual for
millennia, and many have remained virtually unchanged through the centuries.
While the vital relationship between language and religion has been long
acknowledged, new research and thinking across an array of disciplines including
religious studies, sociolinguistics, sociology, linguistics, and even neurolinguistics
has resulted in a renewed interest in the area. This fascinating and informative
book draws on Christian, Islamic, Hindu, Judaic, and Buddhist traditions to provide
a concise and accessible introduction to the phenomenon of sacred languages.
The book takes a strongly comparative, wide-ranging approach to exploring ways
in which ancient religious languages, such as Latin, Pali, Church Slavonic, and
Hebrew continue to shape the beliefs and practices of religious communities
around the world. Informed by both comparative religion and sociolinguistics, it
traces the histories of sacred languages, the myths and doctrines that explain
their origin and value, the various ways they are used, the sectarian debates that
shadow them, and the technological innovations that propel them forward in the
twenty-first century.
•• A comprehensive but succinct account of the role and importance of language
within religion
•• Takes an interdisciplinary approach which will appeal to students and scholars
across an array of disciplines, including religious studies, sociology of religion,
sociolinguistics, and linguistics
•• Provides a strongly comparative exploration, drawing on Christian, Islamic,
Hindu, Judaic, and Buddhist traditions
•• Uses numerous examples and ties historic debates with contemporary
situations
About the Author
Brian P. Bennett, PhD, is Professor of Religious Studies and Chair of the Religious
Studies Department at Niagara University, Lewiston, New York, USA. He is a
comparatist whose research focuses on sacred languages.