Chapter 9. Thought experiments and real experiments as converging data sources in pragmatics
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András Kertész
Abstract
The aim of the present chapter is to reconstruct the relationship between thought experiments and real experiments in pragmatics. In the first part, Searle’s (1969) thought experiment on Kennst du das Land, wo die Zitronen blühn? is analysed with the help of the p-model. The second part reconstructs the argumentation structure of the real experiments reported on in Holtgraves & Ashley (2001), and shows that the latter and Searle’s thought experiment closely interact. Basically, their relationship is characterised by the dynamic process of the cyclic, prismatic and retrospective re-evalutation of information in the sense of the p-model. However, they have different strengths and weaknesses. Accordingly, the generalised finding is that the conscious integration of real and thought experiments as data sources within some research may considerably enhance the reliability of pragmatic hypotheses.
Abstract
The aim of the present chapter is to reconstruct the relationship between thought experiments and real experiments in pragmatics. In the first part, Searle’s (1969) thought experiment on Kennst du das Land, wo die Zitronen blühn? is analysed with the help of the p-model. The second part reconstructs the argumentation structure of the real experiments reported on in Holtgraves & Ashley (2001), and shows that the latter and Searle’s thought experiment closely interact. Basically, their relationship is characterised by the dynamic process of the cyclic, prismatic and retrospective re-evalutation of information in the sense of the p-model. However, they have different strengths and weaknesses. Accordingly, the generalised finding is that the conscious integration of real and thought experiments as data sources within some research may considerably enhance the reliability of pragmatic hypotheses.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Chapter 1. Introduction 1
-
Part I: The methodological framework
- Chapter 2. The p-model of data and evidence in linguistics 15
-
Part II: Object-theoretical applications
- Chapter 3. The plausibility of approaches to syntactic alternation of Hungarian verbs 51
- Chapter 4. Methods and argumentation in historical linguistics 71
- Chapter 5. Hungarian verbs of natural phenomena with explicit and implicit subject arguments 103
- Chapter 6. The development of a taxonomy of verbal disagreements in the light of the p-model 133
- Chapter 7. A case of disagreement 179
- Chapter 8. A plausibility-based model of shifted indexicals 199
-
Part III: Metatheoretical applications
- Chapter 9. Thought experiments and real experiments as converging data sources in pragmatics 221
- Chapter 10. Data and the resolution of inconsistency in Optimality Theory 271
- Chapter 11. Conclusions 309
- Author index 315
- Subject index 317
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Chapter 1. Introduction 1
-
Part I: The methodological framework
- Chapter 2. The p-model of data and evidence in linguistics 15
-
Part II: Object-theoretical applications
- Chapter 3. The plausibility of approaches to syntactic alternation of Hungarian verbs 51
- Chapter 4. Methods and argumentation in historical linguistics 71
- Chapter 5. Hungarian verbs of natural phenomena with explicit and implicit subject arguments 103
- Chapter 6. The development of a taxonomy of verbal disagreements in the light of the p-model 133
- Chapter 7. A case of disagreement 179
- Chapter 8. A plausibility-based model of shifted indexicals 199
-
Part III: Metatheoretical applications
- Chapter 9. Thought experiments and real experiments as converging data sources in pragmatics 221
- Chapter 10. Data and the resolution of inconsistency in Optimality Theory 271
- Chapter 11. Conclusions 309
- Author index 315
- Subject index 317
