| Titre : | Basic linguistic theory T.1 : Methodology |
| contenu dans : | |
| Auteurs : | R.M.W. Dixon |
| Type de document : | texte imprimé |
| Editeur : | Oxford : O.U.P, 2010 |
| ISBN/ISSN/EAN : | 978-0-19-957106-2 |
| Format : | 1 vol. (XVI-381 p.) / 24 cm |
| Note générale : | Index |
| Langues originales: | |
| Index. décimale : | 400 (Langues) |
| Catégories : |
Ouvrages > Littérature - langues > Langues (langage, linguistique) |
| Mots-clés: | Anglais (langue) : grammaire Linguistique (théorie) |
| Résumé : |
What is language like? What are languages like? These are two questions that are fundamental to the discipline of linguistics. Linguists divide into two camps on the basis of which of these two questions they regard as more fundamental or to be the top priority for linguistic research. The first is pursued by ‘theoretical’ linguists, whose goal is to build a theory or model to ‘explain’ human language. The second is asked by ‘descriptive’ linguists, who see their primary goal as the investigation and description of the world’s thousands of languages. The approach of the first is deductive (from theory to hypothesis to data), that of the second inductive (from data to hypothesis to theory). Dixon belongs decidedly to the second camp; and his three-volume Basic Linguistic Theory, based on a lifetime’s work as a descriptive linguist, mounts a spirited defence of the inductive approach. Dixon argues that linguists should proceed from language data to description, and from the descriptions of many languages to theory – the ‘basic linguistic theory’ of the title of his work. The theory is based on the cumulative knowledge and insights of descriptive linguists; and any new description of a previously unanalysed language could potentially modify the theory, if some previously unidentified feature is found or if a feature is used in a previously unrecorded manner. Languages must be analysed in their own terms; descriptive labels and terminology may be derived from the theory and applied to phenomena in the language under analysis that are sufficiently similar to those in other languages. Dixon maintains that no two languages are precisely the same in any feature, so that the theory must always be provisional. The first Volume of Basic Linguistic Theory (BLT) is entitled ‘Methodology’. In it Dixon sets out his aims, to propose “an outline characterization of the structure of human language” (p.1), and to provide a manual for field linguistics, i.e. for those investigating previously unanalysed languages, in the field. Dixon is an experienced field linguist himself, having worked on languages of Australia, Fiji and the Amazon, among others, including English. What he has to say is of direct relevance to linguists working with SIL, who are engaged with analysing languages as a step towards Bible translation and literacy work. The first volume is essential reading for anyone training to become a field linguist. It outlines the scope of grammar, demonstrating the kinds of features that the grammatical systems of languages contain. It explains how to analyse languages and describe their grammars; it shows how to ‘do linguistics’ and engage in linguistic argumentation; and it gives tips on field linguistics. While the focus is on grammar, this volume also contains a chapter on phonology and on the lexicon (i.e. vocabulary), as well as on the issue of terminology. |
Exemplaires (5)
| Cote | Support | Localisation | Disponibilité |
|---|---|---|---|
| L8/26869 | Livre | Bibliothèque centrale | Disponible |
| L8/26870 | Livre | Bibliothèque centrale | Disponible |
| L8/26866 | Livre | Univ. Sétif 2 | Transféré Exclu du prêt |
| L8/26867 | Livre | Univ. Sétif 2 | Transféré Exclu du prêt |
| L8/26868 | Livre | Univ. Sétif 2 | Transféré Exclu du prêt |
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