A Unifying Example in Iconicity: Veni, Vidi, Vici

The primary aim of this article is to examine the role of examples in the formation of linguistic theories. Our hypothesis has two parts. Firstly, we argue that the recurrence of examples contributes to the structuring of a disciplinary field. Secondly, we will demonstrate that this canonisation is accompanied by a process of trivialisation. To test this, we analyse the main (sub)classifications of linguistic iconicity, from Jakobson’s Quest for the Essence of Language to more recent developments, using the example “veni, vidi, vici.” This overview will highlight the conceptual shifts, terminological ambiguities and epistemological tensions that run through this field.

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