András Kertész & Csilla Rákosi:
On current approaches to linguistic data and evidence
Abstract:
The twentieth century saw a series of closely related and inextricably intertwined methodological debates about the problem of the empiricalness of linguistic theories. The contemporary discussion no longer centres on the problem of whether linguistic theories should be empirical or not. Rather, the following questions are focused on: What types of data may be used, what data count as evidence, and what role can be attributed to them in different fields of linguistic theorising? The aim of the present paper is the systematisation and the critical analysis of current answers to these questions. From the findings of the analyses conclusions will be drawn that are ex¬pected to pave the way for the future solution of the problems raised in the discussion at issue.
