What Counts as Evidence in Linguistics

The case of innateness

Editors

Martina Penke

| Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf

Anette Rosenbach

| Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf

Hardbound – Available

ISBN 9789027222374 | EUR 95.00 | USD 143.00

e-Book –

ISBN 9789027292537 | EUR 95.00 | USD 143.00

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.

[Benjamins Current Topics, 7] 2007. x, 297 pp.

Publishing status: Available

https://doi.org/10.1075/bct.7

Table of Contents

Preface	vii–ix
What counts as evidence in linguistics?: An introduction Martina Penke and Anette Rosenbach	1–49
Typological evidence and Universal Grammar Frederick J. Newmeyer	51–73
Remarks on the relation between language typology and Universal Grammar: Commentary on Newmeyer Mark Baltin	75–79
Does linguistic explanation presuppose linguistic description? Martin Haspelmath	81–107
Remarks on description and explanation in grammar: Commentary on Haspelmath Judith Aissen and Joan Bresnan	109–112
Author’s response Martin Haspelmath	113–115
From UG to Universals: Linguistic adaptation through iterated learning Simon Kirby, Kenny Smith and Henry Brighton	117–138
Form, meaning and speakers in the evolution of language: Commentary on Kirby, Smith and Brighton William A. Croft	139–142
Author’s response Simon Kirby, Kenny Smith and Henry Brighton	143–145
Why assume UG? Dieter Wunderlich	147–174
What kind of evidence could refute the UG hypothesis?: Commentary on Wunderlich Michael Tomasello	175–178
Author’s response: Is there any evidence that refutes the UG hypothesis? Dieter Wunderlich	179–180
A question of relevance: Some remarks on standard languages Helmut Weiß	181–208
The Relevance of Variation: Remarks on Weiß’s Standard-Dialect-Problem Horst J. Simon	209–213
Author’s response Helmut Weiß	215–216
Universals, innateness and explanation in second language acquisition Fred Eckman	217–239
‘Internal’ versus ‘external’ universals: Commentary on Eckman Lydia White	241–243
Author’s response: ‘External’ universals and explanation in SLA Fred Eckman	245–248
What counts as evidence in historical linguistics? Olga Fischer	249–281
Abstraction and performance: Commentary on Fischer David W. Lightfoot	283–286
Author’s response Olga Fischer	287–289
Index	291–297

“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): 471-478

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Subjects

Linguistics

Theoretical linguistics

Syntax

BIC Subject: CFH – Phonetics, phonology

BISAC Subject: LAN009000 – LANGUAGE ARTS & DISCIPLINES / Linguistics / General

U.S. Library of Congress Control Number: 2007007384