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Chapter 2. The p-model of data and evidence in linguistics

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Abstract

The p-model is a metatheoretical approach to linguistic theorising that has been designed to capture the nature of linguistic data and evidence in an unorthodox and novel, but well-motivated and effective way. Its starting point is the insight that the latest literature on linguistic data and evidence acknowledged the uncertainty of the latter as their key feature. Since the main characteristic of plausible inferences is that they facilitate drawing conclusions from uncertain premises, and since chains of plausible inferences constitute the main body of the process of plausible argumentation, the basic idea of the p-model is that the structure of linguistic theories is based on various techniques of plausible argumentation. This chapter summarises the main hypotheses of the p-model, which the case studies in the volume are expected to apply to various linguistic theories.

Abstract

The p-model is a metatheoretical approach to linguistic theorising that has been designed to capture the nature of linguistic data and evidence in an unorthodox and novel, but well-motivated and effective way. Its starting point is the insight that the latest literature on linguistic data and evidence acknowledged the uncertainty of the latter as their key feature. Since the main characteristic of plausible inferences is that they facilitate drawing conclusions from uncertain premises, and since chains of plausible inferences constitute the main body of the process of plausible argumentation, the basic idea of the p-model is that the structure of linguistic theories is based on various techniques of plausible argumentation. This chapter summarises the main hypotheses of the p-model, which the case studies in the volume are expected to apply to various linguistic theories.

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Chapter 1. Introduction 1
  4. Part I: The methodological framework
  5. Chapter 2. The p-model of data and evidence in linguistics 15
  6. Part II: Object-theoretical applications
  7. Chapter 3. The plausibility of approaches to syntactic alternation of Hungarian verbs 51
  8. Chapter 4. Methods and argumentation in historical linguistics 71
  9. Chapter 5. Hungarian verbs of natural phenomena with explicit and implicit subject arguments 103
  10. Chapter 6. The development of a taxonomy of verbal disagreements in the light of the p-model 133
  11. Chapter 7. A case of disagreement 179
  12. Chapter 8. A plausibility-based model of shifted indexicals 199
  13. Part III: Metatheoretical applications
  14. Chapter 9. Thought experiments and real experiments as converging data sources in pragmatics 221
  15. Chapter 10. Data and the resolution of inconsistency in Optimality Theory 271
  16. Chapter 11. Conclusions 309
  17. Author index 315
  18. Subject index 317
The Evidential Basis of Linguistic Argumentation
This chapter is in the book The Evidential Basis of Linguistic Argumentation
https://doi.org/10.1075/slcs.153.02ker

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Chapter 1. Introduction 1
  4. Part I: The methodological framework
  5. Chapter 2. The p-model of data and evidence in linguistics 15
  6. Part II: Object-theoretical applications
  7. Chapter 3. The plausibility of approaches to syntactic alternation of Hungarian verbs 51
  8. Chapter 4. Methods and argumentation in historical linguistics 71
  9. Chapter 5. Hungarian verbs of natural phenomena with explicit and implicit subject arguments 103
  10. Chapter 6. The development of a taxonomy of verbal disagreements in the light of the p-model 133
  11. Chapter 7. A case of disagreement 179
  12. Chapter 8. A plausibility-based model of shifted indexicals 199
  13. Part III: Metatheoretical applications
  14. Chapter 9. Thought experiments and real experiments as converging data sources in pragmatics 221
  15. Chapter 10. Data and the resolution of inconsistency in Optimality Theory 271
  16. Chapter 11. Conclusions 309
  17. Author index 315
  18. Subject index 317
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