posted on 2024-11-18, 14:21authored byInaugural addresses
Inaugural lecture--Department of Linguistics, Rand Afrikaans University, 9 September 1970@@The propositions of General Linguistics always involve generalizations about language, because they are intended tc apply to all languages. The most important task of this scientific discipline is therefore to determine universal features of language. The possibility of generalising about language is investigated, and different methods of generalization are discussed critically. It is concluded that no single method is fully effective, and that the best results can be obtained by using the methods of qualitative and quantitative induction simultaneously. The relation between the concepts of 'being a language' and 'universality' is then explored logically. Various types of universals are distinguished on the basis of their logical structures and their role in linguistic theory. It is also shown that synchronic and diachronic generalizations
differ fundamentally since they are based on different logical forms. Finally attention is given to the problem of explaining
universal features in language, and it is decided that linguistics has to rely on other sciences for this purpose. In conclusion it is stated that linguistics can only function effectively if there is a two-way traffic of ideas with other sciences.