Language, Science, and Structure
A Journey into the Philosophy of Linguistics
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Oxford University Press Inc
Published:14th Jun '23
Should be back in stock very soon
What is a language? What do scientific grammars tell us about the structure of individual languages and human language in general? What kind of science is linguistics? These and other questions are the subject of Ryan M. Nefdt's Language, Science, and Structure. Linguistics presents a unique and challenging subject matter for the philosophy of science. As a special science, its formalisation and naturalisation inspired what many consider to be a scientific revolution in the study of mind and language. Yet radical internal theory change, multiple competing frameworks, and issues of modelling and realism have largely gone unaddressed in the field. Nefdt develops a structural realist perspective on the philosophy of linguistics which aims to confront the aforementioned topics in new ways while expanding the outlook toward new scientific connections and novel philosophical insights. On this view, languages are real patterns which emerge from complex biological systems. Nefdt's exploration of this novel view will be especially valuable to those working in formal and computational linguistics, cognitive science, and the philosophies of science, mathematics, and language.
A impressive achievement. Integrating work in the philosophy of science with wide-ranging knowledge of linguistic theory and contemporary cognitive science, this book provides both an evaluation of traditional debates within the philosophy of linguistics as well as a proposal for how it ought to be done in the future... This is a highly engaging book, rich with insight and packed with empirical and conceptual detail. Those working in philosophy of linguistics must read it, those in other areas merely should. * Gabriel Dupre, Philosophical Quarterly *
Overall, Nefdt's book is an impressive tour de force, which will hopefully stimulate more interest in linguistics from philosophers of science. From a linguistic perspective, the book offers some conciliation against the apparent chaos of competing formalisms, but, more importantly, the reconceptualization of the subject matter could inform novel, and less isolationist, research programs in the field. * Adam James Ross Tallman, Philosophy of Science *
Language, Science, and Structure by Ryan Nefdt mounts an impressive and noveldefense of a type of structuralism about both languages and linguistic entities likewords. * David Liebesman, De Gruyter *
ISBN: 9780197653098
Dimensions: 163mm x 229mm x 43mm
Weight: 476g
256 pages