La question de l'histoire des langues et du comparatisme (S. Auroux, Cl. Désirat, T. Hordé) Comparative grammar and the historical study of languages appear to oppose the traditional " grammaire générale", as is shown by the difference between the bibliographies in Thurot's historical article on grammar (1796) and Volney's text on " l'Etude philosophique des langues" (1819). The authors try to prove that Volney has of the subject of language the same conception as Destutt. They study Volney's contribution to the development of linguistic research in France (Académie Celtique, alphabet universel, prix Volney).