Re: The things one finds

Matt Pearson wrote:

> Ed Heil wrote:
> > [rant deleted]
> [counter-rant deleted]
> The claim that the "vast majority" of generative linguists work only on
> English, are obsessed with theory, and never go out into the field to
> gather new data, is just plain false.  Whatever legitimate criticisms you
> might have about generative theory and methodology, you can't accuse
> us of not respecting the importance of data.  To do so is nothing less
> than an insult.
Without any intention of insult, there is a clear methodological
distinction between people who think that leaving aside difficult
counterexamples for a future generation of workers is a legitimate
practice (19th-century physicists didn't go into a tailspin because
they couldn't explain the anomalous motion of Mercury, which requires
general relativity, etc.), and people who think that this *does*
constitute "not respecting the importance of data".  To make things
worse, the history of linguistics is very nearly an empty discipline:
people are taught, at most, caricatures of what their predecessors
thought.  (This is true of the natural sciences as well, alas.)

> I'm sorry if I appear to be ranting.  Usually I just keep my mouth
> shut when people on this list slam generative linguists, and accuse
> us of having our heads in the clouds and not doing 'real' science.
> I know I shouldn't take these offhand remarks personally, but
> sometimes I can't help it.  I'll shut up now.
Hmm.  Perhaps it is no surprise that generativists who do fieldwork
tend to be ... conlingweenies?

> (Simmering, and hoping people will go back to talking about
> conlang-related stuff...)
FWIW, *every* professional linguist of whatever stripe seems to get
into this state from time to time on Conlang, with veiled or
open threats of resignation.  "Shane!  Don't go!  Shane...."
In plain fact, the rest of us need you professionals to keep us
honest, not to say informed.

--
        John Cowan      http://www.ccil.org/~cowan      cowan@ccil.org
Schlingt dreifach einen Kreis um dies! / Schliesst euer Aug vor heiliger Schau,
Denn er genoss vom Honig-Tau / Und trank die Milch vom Paradies.
                        -- Coleridge / Politzer