What Counts as Evidence in Linguistics
The case of innateness
Published on 6. June 2007
Book
Hardback
297 pages
978-90-272-2237-4 (ISBN)
Description
What counts as evidence in linguistics? This question is addressed by the contributions to the present volume (originally published as a Special Issue of Studies in Language 28:3 (2004). Focusing on the innateness debate, what is illustrated is how formal and functional approaches to linguistics have different perspectives on linguistic evidence. While special emphasis is paid to the status of typological evidence and universals for the construction of Universal Grammar (UG), this volume also highlights more general issues such as the roles of (non)-standard language and historical evidence. To address the overall topic, the following three guiding questions are raised: What type of evidence can be used for innateness claims (or UG)?; What is the content of such innate features (or UG)?; and, How can UG be used as a theory guiding empirical research? A combination of articles and peer commentaries yields a lively discussion between leading representatives of formal and functional approaches.
Reviews / Votes
This volume is a coherent collection of articles on the question of linguistic evidence in linguistics. The editors found balance in the range of topics, and the volume constitutes a varied collection of contributions, commentaries and responses. This structure caters particularly well for audiences who are informed in linguistics but do not necessarily have specialist knowledge of some of the issues discussed. Moreover, the mix of opinions enables the reader to spot controversial issues in the debate and clearly distinguish the writers' approaches. For this reason, the volume is highly recommended to everyone, but in particular to graduate and doctoral students. -- Mikko Laittinen, University of Helsinki, in Folia Linguistica 42(2): 471-478More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Amsterdam
Netherlands
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 245 mm
Width: 164 mm
Weight
705 gr
ISBN-13
978-90-272-2237-4 (9789027222374)
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Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
06/2007
1st Edition
John Benjamins Publishing Company
€118.99
Available for download
Persons
Content
1. Preface; 2. What counts as evidence in linguistics?: An introduction (by Penke, Martina); 3. Typological evidence and Universal Grammar (by Newmeyer, Frederick J.); 4. Remarks on the relation between language typology and Universal Grammar: Commentary on Newmeyer (by Baltin, Mark); 5. Does linguistic explanation presuppose linguistic description? (by Haspelmath, Martin); 6. Remarks on description and explanation in grammar: Commentary on Haspelmath (by Aissen, Judith); 7. Author's response (by Haspelmath, Martin); 8. From UG to Universals: Linguistic adaptation through iterated learning (by Kirby, Simon); 9. Form, meaning and speakers in the evolution of language: Commentary on Kirby, Smith and Brighton (by Croft, William A.); 10. Author's response (by Kirby, Simon); 11. Why assume UG? (by Wunderlich, Dieter); 12. What kind of evidence could refute the UG hypothesis?: Commentary on Wunderlich (by Tomasello, Michael); 13. Author's response: Is there any evidence that refutes the UG hypothesis? (by Wunderlich, Dieter); 14. A question of relevance: Some remarks on standard languages (by Weiss, Helmut); 15. The Relevance of Variation: Remarks on Weiss's Standard-Dialect-Problem (by Simon, Horst J.); 16. Author's response (by Weiss, Helmut); 17. Universals, innateness and explanation in second language acquisition (by Eckman, Fred); 18. 'Internal' versus 'external' universals: Commentary on Eckman (by White, Lydia); 19. Author's response: 'External' universals and explanation in SLA (by Eckman, Fred); 20. What counts as evidence in historical linguistics? (by Fischer, Olga); 21. Abstraction and performance: Commentary on Fischer (by Lightfoot, David W.); 22. Author's response (by Fischer, Olga); 23. Index