For the German Enlightenment period in the second half of the 18th century, the concept Sprache (Language) is one of the most enduring constants. The works by G. W. Leibniz on the idealized language, Chr. von Wolff on the innovative language for the science, J. Chr. Adelung on the anthropological nature of language forms the basis for the vocabulary of the humanities. Adelung wrote more than 40 major works on lexicology, grammar, spelling, comparative linguistics, textbooks for schools. These works contribute to the becoming of the philological German tradition and formation of the language for the humanities.