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The Sign Theory of Language and the form-meaning interface / La Théorie du langage basée sur le signe et l’interface forme-sens

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 February 2019

Frederick J. Newmeyer
Frederick J. Newmeyer*
Affiliation:
University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University, and University of Washington
*
fjn@uw.edu
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Abstract

This article examines a key feature of Denis Bouchard's Sign Theory of Language, namely the Substantive Hypothesis (SH), the idea that “the most explanatory linguistic theory is one that minimizes the elements (ideally to zero) that do not have an external motivation in the prior properties of the perceptual and conceptual substances of language”. The article argues that the strongest form of the SH is challenged by two widespread classes of phenomena: morphosyntactic generalizations that are not sign-based, and non-sign-based external pressures on grammars. It concludes with some speculative remarks on why, to a significant degree, grammatical patterning is not sign-based.

Résumé

Cet article porte sur une composante clé de la Théorie du langage basée sur le signe de Denis Bouchard, à savoir l’Hypothèse substantive (HS), selon laquelle « the most explanatory linguistic theory is one that minimizes the elements (ideally to zero) that do not have an external motivation in the prior properties of the perceptual and conceptual substances of language ». [la théorie linguistique qui a le plus grand pouvoir explicatif est celle qui réduit (idéalement à zéro) les éléments qui ne sont pas motivés indépendamment des propriétés antérieures des substances perceptuelles et conceptuelles du langage.] L'article soutient que deux classes de phénomènes très répandus représentent un défi pour les tenants de la version la plus forte de l'HS : les généralisations morphosyntaxiques non basées sur le signe et les pressions externes et indépendantes du signe qui pèsent sur les grammaires. L'article se conclut avec quelques remarques spéculatives concernant ce qui pourrait expliquer pourquoi, dans une grande mesure, les schémas grammaticaux ne sont pas basés sur le signe.

Keywords

autonomy of syntaxiconicityparsing pressurede SaussureSign Theory of Languageautonomie de la syntaxeiconicitéexigences de parsagede SaussureThéorie du langage basée sur le signe
Type
Article
Information
Canadian Journal of Linguistics/Revue canadienne de linguistique , Volume 64 , Issue 2: Les signes, leur combinaison et les propriétés fondamentales du langage : un hommage à Denis Bouchard / Signs, their combination, and the fundamental properties of language: A tribute to Denis Bouchard , June 2019 , pp. 171 - 215
Copyright
© Canadian Linguistic Association/Association canadienne de linguistique 2019 

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Footnotes

I would like to thank three anonymous referees for their penetrating comments on an earlier version of this article.

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