The Significance of Linguistic Generalizations

Bibliographic Data

ID2847751
AuthorsJames R Hurford (corresponding author)
Year1977
Volume53
Issue3
Pages574
Publication date1977-09-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueLanguage (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0097-8507 • E-ISSN: 1535-0665
PublisherJSTOR (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.2307/413178
OpenAlexW2016290014
LanguageEN
Citations received11
References cited10

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