On Explaining Language Change (Cambridge Studies in Linguistics)

RogerLassisconcernedaboutthenatureofargumentationwithinlinguisticsandthestatusofitsdataandtheoreticalconstructs.Throughanexaminationofstandardstrategiesofexplanationinhistoricallinguistics(particularlyofphonologicalchange),inthelightofpastapproachestoscientificepistemology,DrLassconvincinglydemonstratesthatattemptstomodelexplanationsoflinguisticchangeonthoseofthephysicalsciencesarefailuresbothinpracticeandinprinciple.Linguistscanneitherassimilatetheirdisciplinecrudelytothenaturalortheotherhumansciencesnor,attheotherextreme,shelterbehindthenotionofaprivateself-validatingparadigm.AlthoughDrLassoutlinessometentativepathstowardsanalternativeepistemology,hismainconcernisthatlinguistsshouldconfrontthephilosophicalimplicationsoftheirsubject,andheraisesquestionswhichbothlinguistsandphilosopherswillneedtoconsider.