Question

Empiricist linguistics is concerned with:

A.

Investigation of the human mind

B.

Directly observable sense-data

C.

Reason as a determinant of enquiry

D.

Innate language knowledge

Correct option is B

Explanation:

Empiricist linguistics is rooted in the philosophy of empiricism, which emphasizes the role of experience and sensory observation in the acquisition of knowledge. Empiricist linguists focus on studying language based on directly observable data, such as speech sounds, linguistic behavior, and patterns that can be measured or recorded.

This approach contrasts with rationalist linguistics, which often emphasizes innate structures and cognitive frameworks, such as Noam Chomsky's theory of Universal Grammar. Empiricist linguists avoid abstract theoretical constructs unless they are grounded in observable phenomena.


Information Booster:

  1. Empiricism originates from philosophers like John Locke and David Hume, who prioritized sensory experience over innate ideas.
  2. In linguistics, empiricism emphasizes data collection through experiments, observation, and corpus studies.
  3. It opposes theories like generative grammar, which rely on innate structures.
  4. Empiricism contributes to fields like sociolinguistics and descriptive linguistics.

Additional Knowledge:

  • Investigation of the human mind (a): More aligned with rationalist or cognitive approaches in linguistics.
  • Reason as a determinant of enquiry (c): Tied to rationalist traditions rather than empiricism.
  • Innate language knowledge (d): Central to Chomsky’s rationalist Universal Grammar, not empiricism.

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