SEMINAR MENJELANG PELEPASAN WISUDAWAN DI UNIVERSITAS UDAYANA BALI

Rather than attempting to survey the rich array of topics within the philosophy of linguistics, this article focuses on two questions: “What kind of thing is linguistics about?” and “What is the proper evidence-base for linguistics?” After describing various exclusionary answers—physicalism in linguistics as per Bloomfield, Quine and Devitt; mentalism in linguistics as per Chomsky and Jackendoff; Platonism in linguistics as per Katz, Postal and Soames—it argues for pluralism on both fronts: the objects of study in linguistics are metaphysical hybrids, with physical, mental, abstract, and social facets; and, in terms of linguistic methodology, evidence from every domain should in principle be welcomed.