May be our related field "Sinology" can also provide clues, and may be Sinologists have better dates (as usual) for their own field. I found this in Merriam-Webster.
Patrick
si·nol·o·gy
noun,often capitalized\sī-ˈnä-lə-jē, sə-\
Definition of SINOLOGY
: the study of the Chinese and especially their language, literature, history, and culture
— si·no·log·i·caladjectiveoften capitalized
— si·nol·o·gistnounoften capitalized
Origin of SINOLOGY
probably from French sinologie, from sino- + -logie -logy
I wish I knew. Please keep me copied if anyone knows. The term
is clearly linked to the professionalization of the discipline in
the early 19th century (barring an early-bird neologism in the
18th). This most likely takes us to Germany or France. The OED
notes the first occurrence of "Indology" very late, in 1888, and
tellingly, in a Trübner catalog. The first use I can recall
offhand, and then of the related term "Indologen," occurs in a
letter Christan Lassen sent A. W. v. Schlegel from Paris on 10
June 1825: "Von den
Indologen ist mir nur Herr Burnouf zu Gesicht gekommen," in
which he used the term in the flat tones of a well-worn word.
Might we engage in a collective game of "beat that date," and
see how far back we might reach?
In a related question, I wonder how accepted Indology/Indologie
and related terms are accepted in common parlance in different
languages. In spite of the OED's listing, my spellcheck
consistently flags "Indology" and related terms as faulty. I
also recall the concern a British well-wisher expressed at the
prospect of a (now published) book going by the title "The
Making of Western Indology," since "Indology is not a word." We
explained that it was the name of our discipline, and I remember
pointing out that it was also the name of our professional
listserv. Our friend was too polite to insist, but I am afraid
that it convinced him right there and then that our book was not
intended for the general public!
Best wishes,
Rosane Rocher
Professor Emerita of South Asia Studies
University of Pennsylvania
On 8/21/14 11:28 AM, Michaels, Axel
wrote:
Dear all,
does anybody know when the term "Indology/Indologie"
denoting the academic discipline appeared first?