(De-)Socializing (De-)Socializing Historiography of Historiography of

LingusiticsLingusitics

Frank VonkFrank Vonk

Arnhem Business SchoolArnhem Business School

The NetherlandsThe Netherlands

Werner Hüllen’s “Treatise”Werner Hüllen’s “Treatise”

““63. Deliberations about plausibility in support of 63. Deliberations about plausibility in support of historiographical reconstructions draw on the historiographical reconstructions draw on the systems of arguments and experience of the systems of arguments and experience of the historiographical, not the historical subject.historiographical, not the historical subject.

78. Every historiographical subject turns into a 78. Every historiographical subject turns into a historical one for coming generations; every historical one for coming generations; every historiographical text does the same.historiographical text does the same.

79. Within the conditions of historiographical 79. Within the conditions of historiographical work, the historiographical subject is free in work, the historiographical subject is free in relation to history. There is no objective relation to history. There is no objective reconstruction, just as there is no objective reconstruction, just as there is no objective recollection.recollection.

80. Reflecting on the schemata of historiography 80. Reflecting on the schemata of historiography has the aim of defining the liberty of the has the aim of defining the liberty of the historiographical subject vis-à-vis history”historiographical subject vis-à-vis history”

(Werner (Werner Hüllen 2005: 17-19)Hüllen 2005: 17-19)

Today’s statement: The game of Today’s statement: The game of historiography of linguistics can do historiography of linguistics can do without a specific object, because of without a specific object, because of its its linguisticlinguistic and and scientific scientific peculiaritypeculiarity

Sub question: If and how relate Sub question: If and how relate discussions in ‘the’ historiography of discussions in ‘the’ historiography of linguistics to social power, priorities, linguistics to social power, priorities, status, changes or developments?status, changes or developments?

Sociology and Sociology and historiographyhistoriography

Koerner’s (1974) overview of historiographical work in linguistics:Koerner’s (1974) overview of historiographical work in linguistics:

a goal that has been reacheda goal that has been reached in a particular science. in a particular science. There seems to be no longer “any need for a revision of There seems to be no longer “any need for a revision of the methodology or the approach to the subject matter the methodology or the approach to the subject matter under analysis” (Koerner 1974: 1). In linguistics the under analysis” (Koerner 1974: 1). In linguistics the historiographical works by Theoder Benfey (1809-1881), historiographical works by Theoder Benfey (1809-1881), Rudolf von Raumer (1815-1876) or Holger Pedersen Rudolf von Raumer (1815-1876) or Holger Pedersen (1867-1953);(1867-1953);

a “campaign a “campaign opposing previously cherished viewsopposing previously cherished views and still prevailing doctrines” (Koerner 1974: 2). These and still prevailing doctrines” (Koerner 1974: 2). These are works by a new generation of “historians” like are works by a new generation of “historians” like Berthold Delbrück (1942-1922), Hermann Paul (1846-Berthold Delbrück (1942-1922), Hermann Paul (1846-1921) or Noam Chomsky (b. 1928), proposing new 1921) or Noam Chomsky (b. 1928), proposing new theories and replacing older ones;theories and replacing older ones;

a fairly a fairly personal motivation for writing this historypersonal motivation for writing this history, , like the one offered by Hans Arens (1911-2003). The like the one offered by Hans Arens (1911-2003). The history of linguistics is based upon a personal choice, history of linguistics is based upon a personal choice, which might also mean that this choice is based upon which might also mean that this choice is based upon personal interests and expertise, leading to histories of personal interests and expertise, leading to histories of phonetics, psychology of language or morphology;phonetics, psychology of language or morphology;

““the presentation of our linguistic past as an the presentation of our linguistic past as an activity activity founded on well-defined principlesfounded on well-defined principles which can rival which can rival those of ‘normal science’ (Kuhn) itself with regard to those of ‘normal science’ (Kuhn) itself with regard to soundness of method and rigour of application”soundness of method and rigour of application”

(Koerner 1974: 4)(Koerner 1974: 4)

R.H. Robins’s (1967; 1976) R.H. Robins’s (1967; 1976) contributioncontribution Continuities and discontinuitiesContinuities and discontinuities

““The existing state of a science, the The existing state of a science, the starting point for any change, is the starting point for any change, is the product both of product both of externalexternal andand internalinternal factors. The general factors. The general contemporary intellectual and contemporary intellectual and social context, whether favouring social context, whether favouring stabilitystability or encouraging or encouraging changechange, , is largely external to the particular is largely external to the particular science itself, although each science itself, although each science and branch of learning is science and branch of learning is part of the whole part of the whole contextcontext along along with all the others and along with with all the others and along with the the general cultural attitudegeneral cultural attitude towards learning”towards learning”

Changes in historiographical Changes in historiographical practices (Robins 1976)practices (Robins 1976)

1.1. the logical extension of existing theory the logical extension of existing theory and of practice sanctioned by that and of practice sanctioned by that theory,theory,

2.2. the genesis of new concepts and the genesis of new concepts and methods in partial conflict with existing methods in partial conflict with existing theory, as the result either of reflection or theory, as the result either of reflection or of trying to cope with recalcitrant of trying to cope with recalcitrant observed facts, andobserved facts, and

3.3. the effects of new aims, applications, or the effects of new aims, applications, or external motivations” (Robins 1976: 18). external motivations” (Robins 1976: 18).

-Metahistoriography

-Not focus too much on detailed reconstructions

-Narrativity

-Philosophical approach

-Careful with ‘new’ material/linguists etc.

-Historiographical statements do not represent ‘historical realities’

-Types of history writing

-Qualifications of historiographers

-Quality of historiographical work

-Empirical research / data / positivistic

-Naive realism

L.M. de Rijk’s ‘historiography’L.M. de Rijk’s ‘historiography’

Empirical facts we perceive in historiographyEmpirical facts we perceive in historiography Mental or physical entitiesMental or physical entities Past or present entitiesPast or present entities

Speaking about the past includes a contradictionSpeaking about the past includes a contradiction (a) The past itself does exist(a) The past itself does exist (b) The past itself did exist(b) The past itself did exist (c) The past itself did and does exist(c) The past itself did and does exist (d) The past itself did, does and will exist.(d) The past itself did, does and will exist.

(De Rijk 1981: 45)(De Rijk 1981: 45)

If b is true then a, c and d are falseIf b is true then a, c and d are falseIf a is true then b, c and d are irrelevant, part of the If a is true then b, c and d are irrelevant, part of the

present historiographical discoursepresent historiographical discourse

Feynman’s conceptualization of Feynman’s conceptualization of sciencescience

There was on this planet an evolution of life to the stage that there were There was on this planet an evolution of life to the stage that there were evolved animals, which are intelligent. I don’t mean just human evolved animals, which are intelligent. I don’t mean just human beings, but animals which play and which can learn something from beings, but animals which play and which can learn something from experience (like cats). But at this stage each animal would have to experience (like cats). But at this stage each animal would have to learn from its own experience. They gradually develop, until some learn from its own experience. They gradually develop, until some animal could animal could learnlearn from experience more from experience more rapidlyrapidly and could even and could even learn from another’s experience by watching, or one could show the learn from another’s experience by watching, or one could show the other, or he saw what the other one did. So there came a possibility other, or he saw what the other one did. So there came a possibility that all might learn it, but the that all might learn it, but the transmissiontransmission was inefficient and they was inefficient and they would die, and maybe the one who learned it died, too, before he would die, and maybe the one who learned it died, too, before he could pass it on to the others.could pass it on to the others.

The question is, is it possible to learn more rapidly what somebody The question is, is it possible to learn more rapidly what somebody learned from some accident than the rate at which the thing is being learned from some accident than the rate at which the thing is being forgotten, either because of bad memory or because of the death of forgotten, either because of bad memory or because of the death of the learner or inventors? (Feynman 1999: 184)the learner or inventors? (Feynman 1999: 184)

SCIENCE IS: TO BE CRITICAL ON WHATEVER HAS BEEN HANDED DOWN SCIENCE IS: TO BE CRITICAL ON WHATEVER HAS BEEN HANDED DOWN TO US AND EVEN THAT.TO US AND EVEN THAT.

Every context will find its own history Every context will find its own history and historiography. ‘The’ history of and historiography. ‘The’ history of linguistics is the observer’s product → linguistics is the observer’s product → fits in in his or her frame of reference.fits in in his or her frame of reference.

Science encourages the transfer of Science encourages the transfer of mistakes, errors, biases. These are the mistakes, errors, biases. These are the necessary preconditions of science and necessary preconditions of science and scientific research (Feynman)scientific research (Feynman)

What are the relevant (necessary) What are the relevant (necessary) mistakes, errors, biases in ‘the’ mistakes, errors, biases in ‘the’ historiography of the language historiography of the language sciences?sciences?

Sociology of scientific Sociology of scientific knowledgeknowledge

Twenty-five years ago it was a truth almost universally Twenty-five years ago it was a truth almost universally acknowledged that there might be a legitimate sociological acknowledged that there might be a legitimate sociological understanding of scientific error, of “the blind alleys entered understanding of scientific error, of “the blind alleys entered by science,” of the state of scientific institutionalization, and, by science,” of the state of scientific institutionalization, and, perhaps, of the overall dynamics of scientific foci, but that perhaps, of the overall dynamics of scientific foci, but that there could be no such thing as a sociology of authentically there could be no such thing as a sociology of authentically scientific knowledge (Ben-David 1971:11-13). Now, while scientific knowledge (Ben-David 1971:11-13). Now, while assent to the validity of SSK is scarcely universal, a number of assent to the validity of SSK is scarcely universal, a number of central claims have quietly passed into common academic central claims have quietly passed into common academic currency, and the recent paths of the history and philosophy currency, and the recent paths of the history and philosophy of science, technology, and medicine have been of science, technology, and medicine have been fundamentally shaped by practitioners’ appreciation of fundamentally shaped by practitioners’ appreciation of opportunities opened up or problems posed by SSK research. opportunities opened up or problems posed by SSK research.

(Steven Shapin, 1995: “(Steven Shapin, 1995: “Here and Everywhere: Sociology of Here and Everywhere: Sociology of Scientific Knowledge”. Scientific Knowledge”. Annual Review of Sociology, Annual Review of Sociology, Volume Volume 21 290)21 290)

<http://www.compilerpress.atfreeweb.com/Anno%20Shapin<http://www.compilerpress.atfreeweb.com/Anno%20Shapin%20%20Here%20and%20Everywhere%20Sociology%20of%20%20Here%20and%20Everywhere%20Sociology%20of%20Scientific%20Knowledge.htm>%20Scientific%20Knowledge.htm>

Hobbes and Boyle on experimentsHobbes and Boyle on experiments

A different perception of the status of A different perception of the status of experiments.experiments. Boyle wanted a mechanical defence of Boyle wanted a mechanical defence of

knowledge based upon a broad as possible knowledge based upon a broad as possible support, whereas Hobbes saw experiments as support, whereas Hobbes saw experiments as artificial and unreliable not leading to a true artificial and unreliable not leading to a true insight into real nature at all. So, physical insight into real nature at all. So, physical reality as such and creating broadly accepted reality as such and creating broadly accepted knowledge are irrelevant in Hobbes’s view on knowledge are irrelevant in Hobbes’s view on scientific knowledge but they are part of scientific knowledge but they are part of creating and maintaining a social ordercreating and maintaining a social order

““The sociology of knowledge focuses The sociology of knowledge focuses on the distribution of belief and the on the distribution of belief and the various factors which influence it. For various factors which influence it. For example: how is knowledge example: how is knowledge transmitted; how stable is it; what transmitted; how stable is it; what processes go into its creation and processes go into its creation and maintenance; how is it organised and maintenance; how is it organised and categorised into different disciplines or categorised into different disciplines or spheres?” (Bloor 1976: 5)spheres?” (Bloor 1976: 5)

““[A] sociologist takes an indifferent [A] sociologist takes an indifferent position towards the truth-question position towards the truth-question and focuses on the social relations.” and focuses on the social relations.” (Lokhivi 2003: 3)(Lokhivi 2003: 3)

Golem scienceGolem science

CreationCreation Contains the errors Contains the errors

and mistakes of and mistakes of societysociety

Is what happens with Is what happens with all related problems, all related problems, conditions, effects etc.conditions, effects etc.

Error is the basic Error is the basic dimension of sciencedimension of science

““Social construction of facts and artefacts”Social construction of facts and artefacts”

social group

artifactconstruction

problem

solution

Pinch&Bijker 1987: 30, 37

ConclusionsConclusions Historiography of the language sciences Historiography of the language sciences

creates its own field of research initiated creates its own field of research initiated by output, stakeholders, problems and by output, stakeholders, problems and solutions – sometimes dilemma’ssolutions – sometimes dilemma’s

Thus, sociological aspects have a decisive Thus, sociological aspects have a decisive impact on the ways we “do” impact on the ways we “do” historiography as added valuehistoriography as added value

Without ‘broad’ (interdisciplinary) Without ‘broad’ (interdisciplinary) descriptions of historiographical practices descriptions of historiographical practices we cannot adequately communicate any we cannot adequately communicate any historiographical output.historiographical output.

Historiography of linguistics:Historiography of linguistics: Context & type(s) of history writingContext & type(s) of history writing Soci(ologic)al practice →creating value(s)Soci(ologic)al practice →creating value(s) As a science → scientific practice: methodological rules As a science → scientific practice: methodological rules

and reflectionsand reflections

Problems in writing the history of linguistics:Problems in writing the history of linguistics: Story character of historiographyStory character of historiography TerminologyTerminology ‘‘Object’ of historiography and the historiographical Object’ of historiography and the historiographical

‘subject’‘subject’ Method(s) of research → selection, conceptualization and Method(s) of research → selection, conceptualization and

interpretationinterpretation Classification(s)Classification(s) Laws in linguistic developments / changesLaws in linguistic developments / changes Interdisiplinary approach → creating ‘intersections’Interdisiplinary approach → creating ‘intersections’ Change or developmentChange or development Power relationsPower relations Identity of historiographical researchIdentity of historiographical research Anthropological and regional factors → relevanceAnthropological and regional factors → relevance