Theoretical Linguistics

Block 5
Mon, Wed, Fri, 10:30-11:50 am (NY)
(5:30-6:50 pm, Kyiv/St. P)

Is linguistics the hardest of the soft sciences or the softest of the hard sciences? Positioned between the humanities and the natural sciences, linguistics raises important questions about what counts as scientific inquiry in the study of language. This session will explore key philosophies of science through the work of Popper, Kuhn, and Lakatos, and consider how their ideas apply to linguistic research. We will discuss to what extent linguistic methodology can be compared to that of the “hard” sciences, focusing on questions such as the nature of linguistic data, whether and how our claims are falsifiable, and what constitutes empirical evidence in the field. The discussion will also address the basic steps of scientific inquiry—induction, deduction, hypothesis formation, and testing—and how these processes manifest in linguistic research practices. Rather than following a strict schedule, the session will take the form of a guided reading group and open discussion, encouraging participants to reflect critically on methodological assumptions and the scientific status of linguistics.