For Never Was a Mazier Mystery Than That of Phoneme and Its History

The aim of the research is to study and systematize etymological, historical-linguistic historiographic information about terms fonema / phoneme Phonem based on results analysis Russian, English German theoretical lexicographic sources published in 19th—20th centuries. Sources French are used where necessary. methods historical-linguistic, historiographical, definitional, semantic lexicographical study. It has been established that ancient Greek language, which source origin word φώνημα, latter was two general meanings: (1) ‘voice, sound’, (2) ‘word, speech’. In second half 19th century, new European languages, underwent adaptation, subsequent rethinking acquired a terminological status. term phonème first by amateur linguist A. Dufriche-Desgenettes 1861 generalized phonetic meaning ‘sound’. phonological sense, this found F. de Saussure 1879. (phoneme) introduced into Russian linguistic terminology 1880 N. V. Krushevsky and, starting from 1881, widely works I. Baudouin Courtenay, M. Dobrovsky others. use ‘sound’ should presumably be attributed 1914, not 1894, as evidenced sources. highly specialized (phonological) fixed already 1919, when corresponding usage recorded work G. Perera D. Jones. vocabulary appeared 1855 thanks Bulgarian philosopher P. Beron. similar desired 1875 E. Boehmer. its meaning, occurs for time Courtenay 1895.