Hi Trent, from a fellow Utah County resident (I'm in Spanish Fork).
And hi again everyone; I'm back after my unplanned summer hiatus from
the list. Well, maybe not unplanned, but certainly unwelcome; there
was just too much stuff to do and not enough time to follow discussion
here.
On 9/8/05, Trent Pehrson <pehr099@...> wrote:
> Most excellent list members,
>
> I make a humble request for the sole purpose of satiating my own
> curiosity. Please respond to the following, brief survey:
>
> 1) Do you consider yourself a linguist?
Yes; it's how I earn my bread and butter (I'm a faculty member of
Brigham Young University's department of Linguistics and English
Language).
> 2) Given only the following labels, which best describes linguistics
> as a discipline for you? (a) a scientific discipline (b) a philosophical
> discipline.
Both.
> 3) Given only the following definitions, which comes closest to
> describing the purpose of linguistics for you? (a) learning to speak many
> languages. (b) learning the structures of languages. (c) learning how
> language works in the human mind. (d) defining and cataloging languages.
> (e) defining language at large. (e) the humanistic study of language and
> literature.
(b)-(c) (BTW, I don't understand what is meant by (e).)
> 4) Do you consider yourself a scientist?
Yes, since that is how I pursue my linguistic research these days.
> 5) Given only the following definitions, which comes closest to
> describing the purpose of science for you? (a) the search for truth. (b)
> use of the scientific method to create theories by proving or disproving
> hypotheses (c) the process of discovering natural laws.
(b) and (c).
> 6) Do you consider yourself a philosopher?
No.
> 7) Given only the following definitions, which comes closest to
> describing the purpose of philosophy for you? (a) the search for truth.
> (b) the pursuit of wisdom by intellectual means and moral self-discipline.
> (c) the study of the nature of reality based on logical reasoning rather
> than empirical methods. (d) a critical analysis of fundamental assumptions
> or beliefs. (e) a discipline comprising logic, ethics, aesthetics,
> metaphysics, and epistemology.
(b)-(c).
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