Saussurian Structuralism in Linguistics
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Perceptual Variation and Structuralism
NOUSˆ 54:2 (2020) 290–326 doi: 10.1111/nous.12245 Perceptual Variation and Structuralism JOHN MORRISON Barnard College, Columbia University Abstract I use an old challenge to motivate a new view. The old challenge is due to variation in our perceptions of secondary qualities. The challenge is to say whose percep- tions are accurate. The new view is about how we manage to perceive secondary qualities, and thus manage to perceive them accurately or inaccurately. I call it perceptual structuralism. I first introduce the challenge and point out drawbacks with traditional responses. I spend the rest of the paper motivating and defending a structuralist response. While I focus on color, both the challenge and the view generalize to the other secondary qualities. 1. Perceptual Variation Our perceptual experiences tell us that lemons are yellow and sour. It’s natural to infer that lemons really are yellow and sour. But perceptions vary, even among ordinary observers. Some perceive lemons as slightly greener and sweeter. This gives rise to a challenge that forces us to rethink the nature of perception and the objectivity of what we perceive. For concreteness, I’ll focus on the perceptions of two ordinary observers, Miriam and Aaron. I’ll also focus on their perceptions of a particular lemon’s color. These restrictions will make the challenge easier to understand and the responses easier to compare. But the challenge and responses are perfectly general. Toward the end of the paper I’ll return to sourness and the other secondary qualities. When Miriam and Aaron look at the same lemon, their perceptions differ. -
The Meanings of Structuralism : Considerations on Structures and Gestalten, with Particular Attention to the Masks of Levi-Strauss
The meanings of structuralism : considerations on structures and Gestalten, with particular attention to the masks of Levi-Strauss Sonesson, Göran Published in: Segni e comprensione 2012 Link to publication Citation for published version (APA): Sonesson, G. (2012). The meanings of structuralism : considerations on structures and Gestalten, with particular attention to the masks of Levi-Strauss. Segni e comprensione, XXVI(78), 84-101. Total number of authors: 1 General rights Unless other specific re-use rights are stated the following general rights apply: Copyright and moral rights for the publications made accessible in the public portal are retained by the authors and/or other copyright owners and it is a condition of accessing publications that users recognise and abide by the legal requirements associated with these rights. • Users may download and print one copy of any publication from the public portal for the purpose of private study or research. • You may not further distribute the material or use it for any profit-making activity or commercial gain • You may freely distribute the URL identifying the publication in the public portal Read more about Creative commons licenses: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/ Take down policy If you believe that this document breaches copyright please contact us providing details, and we will remove access to the work immediately and investigate your claim. LUND UNIVERSITY PO Box 117 221 00 Lund +46 46-222 00 00 International RIVISTA TELEMATICA QUADRIMESTRALE - ANNO XXVI NUOVA SERIE - N. 78 – SETTEMBRE-DICEMBRE 2012 1 This Review is submitted to international peer review Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) Segni e comprensione International Pubblicazione promossa nel 1987 dal Dipartimento di Filosofia e Scienze sociali dell’Università degli Studi di Lecce, oggi Università del Salento, con la collaborazione del “Centro Italiano di Ricerche fenomenologiche” con sede in Roma, diretto da Angela Ales Bello. -
Structuralism 1. the Nature of Meaning Or Understanding
Structuralism 1. The nature of meaning or understanding. A. The role of structure as the system of relationships Something can only be understood (i.e., a meaning can be constructed) within a certain system of relationships (or structure). For example, a word which is a linguistic sign (something that stands for something else) can only be understood within a certain conventional system of signs, which is language, and not by itself (cf. the word / sound and “shark” in English and Arabic). A particular relationship within a شرق combination society (e.g., between a male offspring and his maternal uncle) can only be understood in the context of the whole system of kinship (e.g., matrilineal or patrilineal). Structuralism holds that, according to the human way of understanding things, particular elements have no absolute meaning or value: their meaning or value is relative to other elements. Everything makes sense only in relation to something else. An element cannot be perceived by itself. In order to understand a particular element we need to study the whole system of relationships or structure (this approach is also exactly the same as Malinowski’s: one cannot understand particular elements of culture out of the context of that culture). A particular element can only be studied as part of a greater structure. In fact, the only thing that can be studied is not particular elements or objects but relationships within a system. Our human world, so to speak, is made up of relationships, which make up permanent structures of the human mind. B. The role of oppositions / pairs of binary oppositions Structuralism holds that understanding can only happen if clearly defined or “significant” (= essential) differences are present which are called oppositions (or binary oppositions since they come in pairs). -
Putting Structuralism Back Into Structural Inequality Anders Walker Saint Louis University School of Law
Saint Louis University School of Law Scholarship Commons All Faculty Scholarship 2019 Freedom and Prison: Putting Structuralism Back into Structural Inequality Anders Walker Saint Louis University School of Law Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarship.law.slu.edu/faculty Part of the Civil Rights and Discrimination Commons, Criminal Law Commons, Criminal Procedure Commons, and the Criminology and Criminal Justice Commons Recommended Citation Walker, Anders, Freedom and Prison: Putting Structuralism Back into Structural Inequality (January 4, 2019). University of Louisville Law Review, Vol. 49, No. 267, 2019. This Article is brought to you for free and open access by Scholarship Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in All Faculty Scholarship by an authorized administrator of Scholarship Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. FREEDOM AND PRISON: PUTTING STRUCTURALISM BACK INTO STRUCTURAL INEQUALITY Anders Walker* ABSTRACT Critics of structural racism frequently miss structuralism as a field of historical inquiry. This essay reviews the rise of structuralism as a mode of historical analysis and applies it to the mass incarceration debate in the United States, arguing that it enriches the work of prevailing scholars in the field. I. INTRODUCTION Structuralism has become a prominent frame for discussions of race and inequality in the United States, part of a larger trend that began in the wake of Barack Obama’s presidential victory in 2008. This victory was a moment -
Philosophy of Linguistics
Philosophy of Linguistics Brian Rabern Philosophy DSB 4.04c 0131 651 5178 [email protected] Geoff Pullum Linguistics DSB 2.23 0131 650 3603 [email protected] Meetings The class meetings are from 11:00 to 13:00 each Wednesday from 19th September to 28th November in Old Library 2.19, Geography building, Old Infirmary complex (weeks 1–3 and 6–11) and in 01M.469 Teaching Room 12 (Doorway 3), Medical School building. Class meetings are mandatory. Readings Required reading is to be done before the class meets; background reading to be studied as time and specific interests permit. Assessment (i) short paper (1000-1500 words) to be turned in by 5 p.m. on Monday 15th October (topics will be provided); (ii) final essay examination with choice of questions from the whole of the course. Week 1 (19th September; Old Library 2.19): Introduction What linguistics is. Linguistics as a special science. Syntax and semantics as conceived in logic. Charles Morris’s trichotomy of syntax, semantics, and pragmatics. Philosophy of science applied to linguistics. Required reading • Hunter, Geoffrey (1971) Metalogic: An Introduction to the Metatheory of Standard First Order Logic (Berkeley: University of California Press), pp. 4–13. Background reading • Stainton, Robert (2014) ‘Philosophy of linguistics’, Oxford Handbooks Online. Online at https://works.bepress.com/robertstainton/126/ Week 2 (26th September; Old Library 2.19): Language and languages The metaphysics of linguistics. The vexed question of whether language should be regarded as psychological, social, or purely abstract. The descriptive linguistics of the American structuralists and the mentalist/cognitive backlash; ‘God’s truth’ (realism) vs. -
Chapter 7 Linguistics As a Science of Structure Ryan M
Chapter 7 Linguistics as a science of structure Ryan M. Nefdt University of the Western Cape Generative linguistics has rapidly changed during the course of a relatively short period. This has caused many to question its scientific status as a realist scientific theory (Stokhof & van Lambalgen 2011; Lappin et al. 2000). In this chapter, I argue against this conclusion. Specifically, I claim that the mathematical foundations of the science present a different story below the surface. I agree with critics that due to the major shifts in theory over the past 80 years, linguistics is indeed opened up to the problem of pessimistic meta-induction or radical theory change. However, I further argue that a structural realist approach (Ladyman 1998; French 2006) can save the field from this problem and at the same time capture its structural nature. I discuss particular historical instances of theory change in generative grammar as evidence for this interpretation and finally attempt to extend it beyond the gener- ative tradition to encompass previous frameworks in linguistics. 1 Introduction The generativist revolution in linguistics started in the mid-1950s, inspired in large part by insights from mathematical logic and in particular proof theory. Since then, generative linguistics has become a dominant paradigm, with many connections to both the formal and natural sciences. At the centre of the newly established discipline was the syntactic or formal engine, the structures of which were revealed through modelling grammatical form. The generativist paradigm in linguistics initially relied heavily upon the proof-theoretic techniques intro- duced by Emil Post and other formal logicians to model the form language takes (Tomalin 2006; Pullum 2011; 2013).1 Yet despite these aforementioned formal be- ginnings, the generative theory of linguistics has changed its commitments quite 1Here my focus will largely be on the formal history of generative syntax but I will make some comments on other aspects of linguistics along the way. -
Aristotle on Verbal Communication: the First Chapters of De Interpretatione
EJPC 7 (2) pp. 239–253 Intellect Limited 2016 Empedocles: European Journal for the Philosophy of Communication Volume 7 Number 2 © 2016 Intellect Ltd Critical Review. English language. doi: 10.1386/ejpc.7.2.239_3 CRITICAL REVIEW ANITA KASABOVA Sofia University VLADIMIR MARINOV New Bulgarian University Aristotle on verbal communication: The first chapters of De Interpretatione ABSTRACT KEYWORDS This article deals with the communicational aspects of Aristotle’s theory of significa- Aristotle tion as laid out in the initial chapters of the De Interpretatione (Int.).1 We begin De Interpretatione by outlining the reception and main interpretations of the chapters under discussion, verbal communication rather siding with the linguistic strand. We then argue that the first four chap- signification ters present an account of verbal communication, in which words signify things via linguistic expressions thoughts. We show how Aristotle determines voice as a conventional and hence acci- convention dental medium of signification: words as ‘spoken sounds’ are tokens of thoughts, language use which in turn are signs or natural likenesses of things. We argue that, in this way, 1. We follow the standard linguistic expressions may both signify thoughts and refer to things. This double edition of the Greek account of signification also explains the variety of ontological, logical and psycho- text of Int. by Minio- logical interpretations of the initial chapters of Int. Paluello (1949: 47–72), unless otherwise stated. All references to Aristotle’s works 239 11_EJPC 7.2_Critical review article_239-253.indd 239 11/22/16 1:55 PM Anita Kasabova and Vladimir Marinov follow the citation 1. -
'Langue' and 'Langage
FOURNET, Arnaud. Some comparative and historical considerations about Ferdinand de Saussure's distinction between ‘langue’ and ‘langage’. ReVEL , vol. 8, n. 14, 2010. [www.revel.inf.br/eng]. SOME COMPARATIVE AND HISTORICAL CONSIDERATIONS ABOUT FERDINAND DE SAUSSURE ’S DISTINCTION BETWEEN ‘LANGUE ’ AND ‘LANGAGE ’ Arnaud Fournet 1 [email protected] ABSTRACT : Modern French has two words: langue and langage when English has only one: language , originally a loanword from Old French. The article investigates when and how French gradually used two words to distinguish the concept of a particular language ( langue ) and that of speech ability ( langage ). This split started around 1600 and was permanently established around 1800. KEYWORDS : Language; Structuralism; de Saussure. 1. ABOUT THE ENGLISH WORD ‘LANGUAGE ’ The present article originates in my personal realization that English only has one word: language whereas French has two words: langue and langage to describe linguistic activity, behavior, competence or faculty 2, in spite of the quite obvious historical fact that the English word is a loanword from (Old) French 3. So I set about looking for the reasons why the difference exists and what particular theoretical features it may entail. English somehow misses a word and it is interesting to investigate the causes and some potential consequences of that lexical want. It is worth noting that, following the impulse of Old French, several modern Romance languages display a similar difference between langue 4 and langage 5. The word langue is the 1 PhD from Université René Descartes. 2 Depending on the theoretical preferences of authors. 3 The English word begins to be attested in the time bracket: 1250-1300. -
Linguistics As a Resouvce in Language Planning. 16P
DOCUMENT RESUME ED 095 698 FL 005 720 AUTHOR Garvin, Paul L. TITLE' Linguistics as a Resouvce in Language Planning. PUB DATE Jun 73 NOTE 16p.; PaFPr presented at the Symposium on Sociolinguistics and Language Planning (Mexico City, Mexico, June-July, 1973) EPRS PPICE MF-$0.75 HC-$1.50 PLUS POSTAGE DESCRIPTORS *Applied Linguistics; Language Development; *Language Planning; Language Role; Language Standardization; Linguistics; Linguistic Theory; Official Languages; Social Planning; *Sociolinguistics ABSTPACT Language planning involves decisions of two basic types: those pertaining to language choice and those pertaining to language development. linguistic theory is needed to evaluate the structural suitability of candidate languages, since both official and national languages mast have a high level of standardizaticn as a cultural necessity. On the other hand, only a braodly conceived and functionally oriented linguistics can serve as a basis for choosiag one language rather than another. The role of linguistics in the area of language development differs somewhat depending on whether development is geared in a technological and scientific or a literary, artistic direction. In the first case, emphasis is on the development of terminologies, and in the second case, on that of grammatical devices and styles. Linguistics can provide realistic and practical arguments in favor of language development, and a detailed, technical understanding of such development, as well as methodological skills. Linguists can and must function as consultants to those who actually make decisions about language planning. For too long linguists have pursued only those aims generated within their own field. They must now broaden their scope to achieve the kind of understanding of language that is necessary for a productive approach to concrete language problems. -
What Is Linguistics?
What is Linguistics? Matilde Marcolli MAT1509HS: Mathematical and Computational Linguistics University of Toronto, Winter 2019, T 4-6 and W 4, BA6180 MAT1509HS Win2019: Linguistics Linguistics • Linguistics is the scientific study of language - What is Language? (langage, lenguaje, ...) - What is a Language? (lange, lengua,...) Similar to `What is Life?' or `What is an organism?' in biology • natural language as opposed to artificial (formal, programming, ...) languages • The point of view we will focus on: Language is a kind of Structure - It can be approached mathematically and computationally, like many other kinds of structures - The main purpose of mathematics is the understanding of structures MAT1509HS Win2019: Linguistics Linguistics Language Families - Niger-Congo (1,532) - Austronesian (1,257) - Trans New Guinea (477) - Sino-Tibetan (449) - Indo-European (439) - Afro-Asiatic (374) - Nilo-Saharian (205) - Oto-Manguean (177) - Austro-Asiatic (169) - Tai-Kadai (92) - Dravidian (85) - Creole (82) - Tupian (76) - Mayan (69) - Altaic (66) - Uto-Aztecan (61) MAT1509HS Win2019: Linguistics Linguistics - Arawakan (59) - Torricelli (56) - Sepik (55) - Quechuan (46) - Na-Dene (46) - Algic (44) - Hmong-Mien (38) - Uralic (37) - North Caucasian (34) - Penutian (33) - Macro-Ge (32) - Ramu-Lower Sepik (32) - Carib (31) - Panoan (28) - Khoisan (27) - Salishan (26) - Tucanoan (25) - Isolated Languages (75) MAT1509HS Win2019: Linguistics Linguistics MAT1509HS Win2019: Linguistics Linguistics The Indo-European Language Family: Phylogenetic Tree -
Why Major in Linguistics (And What Does a Linguist Do)? by Monica Macaulay and Kristen Syrett
1 Why Major in Linguistics (and what does a linguist do)? by Monica Macaulay and Kristen Syrett What is linguistics? Speakers of all languages know a lot about their languages, usually without knowing that they know If you are considering becoming a linguistics it. For example, as a speaker of English, you major, you probably know something about the possess knowledge about English word order. field of linguistics already. However, you may find Perhaps without even knowing it, you understand it hard to answer people who ask you, "What that Sarah admires the teacher is grammatical, exactly is linguistics, and what does a linguist do?" while Admires Sarah teacher the is not, and also They might assume that it means you speak a lot of that The teacher admires Sarah means something languages. And they may be right: you may, in entirely different. You know that when you ask a fact, be a polyglot! But while many linguists do yes-no question, you may reverse the order of speak multiple languages—or at least know a fair words at the beginning of the sentence and that the bit about multiple languages—the study of pitch of your voice goes up at the end of the linguistics means much more than this. sentence (for example, in Are you going?). Linguistics is the scientific study of language, and However, if you speak French, you might add est- many topics are studied under this umbrella. At the ce que at the beginning, and if you know American heart of linguistics is the search for the unconscious knowledge that humans have about language and how it is that children acquire it, an understanding of the structure of language in general and of particular languages, knowledge about how languages vary, and how language influences the way in which we interact with each other and think about the world. -
Leibniz and German As a Language of Science1 Two Years Ago, One Of
Published in: Dia-e-logos Vol. 1 (2004) Nr. 1, Pp. 11-17. 4. Gerhard Stickel: Leibniz And German As A Language Of Science1 Two years ago, one of the four major German science organisations representing about 80 institutes named itself "Wissenschaftsgemeinschaft Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz" (Science Society Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz; WGL). The German Language Institute is also a member of this society. It was predominantly the representatives of the natural science institutions who chose Leibniz as their patron, motivated by the wish to be recognised in the international world of science under the illustrious name of this eminent polymath. As I found to my surprise, most of the Leibniz admirers in the natural Sciences were hardly aware that this eminent lawman, philosopher, mathematician, physicist and inventor had also given important impulses to linguistics. My intention is not to deal with Leibniz as a language theoretician and language researcher. Instead, I want to recall a small part of Leibniz’s work which every now and then is also noted in the liberal arts: his writings on, and for, the German language. The two minor works in question are no strictly scientific treatises, but essay-like memorials. The older of the two, presumably written around the year 1682, is entitled “Ermahnung an die Deutschen, ihren Verstand und ihre Sprache besser zu üben, samt beigefugtem Vorschlag einer deutschgesinnten Gesellschaft” (Exhortation to the Germans to better exercise their reason and their language, with the added Suggestion of a German-minded society; EaD). In newer editions, the second essay carries the title “Unvorgreifliche Gedanken, betreffend die Ausübung und Verbesserung der deutschen Sprache” (Unpremeditated thoughts on the practice and the improvement of the German language; UG) and was written around the year 1697, almost 300 years ago.