Noam Chomsky: Fake Linguist(freerepublic.com)
freerepublic.com
Noam Chomsky: Fake Linguist
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/865339/posts?page=151
1 comments
Well, happily a lot of people are realizing that Chomsky's linguistic theories (transformational generative grammar, universal grammar) are the scientific equivalent of ptolemaic epicycles, i.e. overly complex nonsense used to justify their own preconceptions. However he is still fairly influential in syntax (and to a lesser extent phonology) which are two branches of linguistics. Sadly his theories (and his name) get thrown around a lot more than actual pioneering linguists like Edward Sapir (who only gets brought up when people talk about the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis).
Edit: see this LL post for an explanation of what I mean http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=2622
Edit: see this LL post for an explanation of what I mean http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=2622
Chomsky was an early visionary, and his intuition was very good. I would compare him more to Freud than to Ptolemaic astronomers. He started from a single notion, and built a theory around it that was justified by anecdote.
But many of the tools and constructs that fell out of this theory are important. Consider the work with grammar. CTF is equivalent to PDA, but much easier to use conceptually.
But many of the tools and constructs that fell out of this theory are important. Consider the work with grammar. CTF is equivalent to PDA, but much easier to use conceptually.
Well, you can't deny that he contributed some ideas that PLT people make use of, but the question here is whether TGG is any good as a _scientific theory of language_ and I think the answer is no. The reason I compared him to Ptolemaic theorists is because he came up with some interesting mathematical ideas, but he doesn't care about systematically collecting data and attempting to falsify the theory. See: http://norvig.com/chomsky.html
I don't know anything about linguistics, but the argument hangs together pretty well. It's consonant with what I know about Chomsky as political prophet and myth-maker.
I notice that this article, a decade old, also indicts science in general. The author was perhaps ahead of his time:
http://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21588069-scientific-re...
http://www.economist.com/news/briefing/21588057-scientists-t...
http://www.latimes.com/business/hiltzik/la-fi-mh-feynman-201...
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-hiltzik-20131027,0,122...
http://www.livescience.com/27262-psychology-studies-question...