Abstract—Classical languages represented by Latin and
Greek have always been an essential part of gentlemanly
education. However, with the rapid development of the
bourgeoisie and the rise of empirical science in the 17th and
18th centuries, social needs began to change, and traditional
learning courses could not adapt to society's development.
John Locke conceives that the focus of language learning
should be shifted from classical languages to English. An
English gentleman should learn his own mother tongue.
Moreover, English learning is not only about grammar but also
about propriety and civility. English is not only a tool to learn
knowledge but also a symbol of one's social rank. Therefore, a
gentleman should show his propriety in the conversation.
Index Terms—Locke, gentleman education, language,
empiricism, propriety.
The author is with the Hangzhou Normal University, China (e-mail:
17767095758@163.com).
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Cite:Yueyue Li, "John Locke’s Educational Theory on Gentlemen’s Language Learning," International Journal of Languages, Literature and Linguistics vol. 7, no. 2, pp. 50-53, 2021.