Esa Itkonen's Books

Grammatical Theory and Metascience

A critical investigation into the methodological and philosophical foundations of 'autonomous' linguistics

By: Esa Itkonen

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Grammatical Theory and Metascience

A critical investigation into the methodological and philosophical foundations of 'autonomous' linguistics

By: Esa Itkonen

In this book, the author analyses the nature of the science of grammar. After presenting some methodological and historical background, he sets forth a theory of language and of grammar, showing that the science of grammar is not an empirical, but a normative science, comparable to logic and philosophy, characterized by the use of the method of explication.

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Page Count

370

Publisher

John Benjamins Publishing

Published Date

ISBN 10

9027281394

ISBN 13

9789027281395

Causality in Linguistic Theory

A Critical Investigation Into the Philosophical and Methodological Foundations of 'non-autonomous' Linguistics

By: Esa Itkonen

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Causality in Linguistic Theory

A Critical Investigation Into the Philosophical and Methodological Foundations of 'non-autonomous' Linguistics

By: Esa Itkonen

The author seeks to examine the methodological and philosophical status of non-autonomous, that is, causal linguistics.

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Page Count

364

Publisher

Indiana University Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

0253313252

ISBN 13

9780253313256

Analogy as Structure and Process

Approaches in linguistics, cognitive psychology and philosophy of science

By: Esa Itkonen

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Analogy as Structure and Process

Approaches in linguistics, cognitive psychology and philosophy of science

By: Esa Itkonen

The concept of analogy is of central concern to modern cognitive scientists, whereas it has been largely neglected in linguistics in the past four decades. The goal of this thought-provoking book is (1) to introduce a cognitively and linguistically viable notion of analogy; and (2) to re-establish and build on traditional linguistic analogy-based research. As a starting point, a general definition of analogy is offered that makes the distinction between analogy-as-structure and analogy-as-process. Chapter 2 deals with analogy as used in traditional linguistics. It demonstrates how phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and diachronic linguistics make use of analogy and discusses linguistic domains in which analogy does or did not work. The appendix gives a description of a computer program, which performs such instances of analogy-based syntactic analysis as have long been claimed impossible. Chapter 3 supports the ultimate (non-modular) ‘unity of the mind’ and discusses the existence of pervasive analogies between language and such cognitive domains as vision, music, and logic. The final chapter presents evidence for the view that the cosmology of every culture is based on analogy. At a more abstract level, the role of analogy in scientific change is scrutinized, resulting in a meta-analogy between myth and science.

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Page Count

266

Publisher

John Benjamins Publishing

Published Date

ISBN 10

9027294011

ISBN 13

9789027294012

Universal History of Linguistics

India, China, Arabia, Europe

By: Esa Itkonen

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Universal History of Linguistics

India, China, Arabia, Europe

By: Esa Itkonen

This wide-ranging book presents the linguistic achievements of four major cultures to readers presumably conversant with modern theoretical linguistics. The chapter on India discusses in detail Pan?ini's (c. 400 B.C.) grammar Ast-adhy-ay-i as well as the work of his commentators Katyayana, Patanjali, and Bhartr?hari. In the Chinese tradition, the Confucian doctrine of the Rectification of Names' is singled out for treatment. Arabic linguistics is represented by Sibawaihi's (d. 793) grammar al-Kitab, in particular its syntax, as well as the subsequent commentary tradition. The chapter on Europe, which is the most comprehensive of the four, covers the time span from antiquity to the 20th century; special attention is devoted to the contributions of Plato, Aristotle, the Stoics, Varro, Apollonius Dyscolus, and the Modistae. The achievements of the cultures in linguistics are treated throughout from a deliberately value-laden point of view. The achievements of Western antiquity and the Middle Ages are shown to be much more than the average linguist is inclined to believe. Even more importantly, it is shown that the Indian and the Arab traditions have been superior to the European tradition at least until the 20th century. The fact that a linguistic theory created some 2,400 years ago is fully as adequate as our best theories today must have far-reaching implications for the notion of 'scientific progress'. More precisely, it proves necessary to distinguish between 'progress in the human sciences' and 'progress in the natural sciences'. These issues, which pertain to the general philosophy of science, are treated in the final chapter of the book.

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