The Significance of Linguistic Generalizations

Dados Bibliográficos

ID2847751
AutoresJames R Hurford (autor correspondente)
Ano1977
Volume53
Fascículo3
Páginas574
Data de publicação1977-09-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessNão
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoLanguage (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0097-8507 • E-ISSN: 1535-0665
EditoraJSTOR (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.2307/413178
OpenAlexW2016290014
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas11
Referências citadas10

This paper addresses the problem of defining the notion ‘linguistically significant generalization’; it separates the notion of ‘generalization’ from that of ‘significance’, and proposes a rigorous objective method for determining the significance of a generalization, based on probability theory. The proposal is illustrated by applying it to examples central to theorizing in generative grammar. Precisely formulated versions of claims made by Chomsky on the use of certain abbreviatory notations (e.g. parentheses) and by Halle on certain ‘natural classes’ are investigated and shown to be not significant; i.e., they tell us nothing interesting about the nature of language. Other generalizations—on active/passive selectional restrictions, word-order universal, and noun phrase accessibility—are shown to be highly significant

Linguistic description · Linguistics · Sociology · Theoretical linguistics · Linguistic Variation and Morphology · Natural Language Processing Techniques · Philosophy · Psychology · Syntax, Semantics, Linguistic Variation