tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5275657281509261156.post7119822208460470202..comments2024-03-28T04:04:55.806-07:00Comments on Faculty of Language: David Pesetsky does some important intellectual clean-upNorberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15701059232144474269noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5275657281509261156.post-79693355838793165312014-12-27T00:15:49.284-08:002014-12-27T00:15:49.284-08:00Avery, in case your reply was to me: we are talkin...Avery, in case your reply was to me: we are talking about different things. I am objecting to Norbert's claim that "Chomsky is especially careful to quote his sources when he goes after them." and have provided specific examples where he failed to do that. This has nothing to do with Evan's project. It is about Norbert's allegation that Chomsky's critics [which he does not name] fail to live up to the "burden of accuracy" that, allegedly, Chomsky shoulders in his publications and that "In fact, just making shit up is the usual way of proceeding" [for those unnamed critics]. I have asked Norbert to provide the sources for the claims Chomsky makes - seemingly Norbert is unable to do so...<br /><br /> Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03443435257902276459noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5275657281509261156.post-8621080049771776872014-12-26T21:48:49.986-08:002014-12-26T21:48:49.986-08:00Well but, you can't take down Generative Gramm...Well but, you can't take down Generative Grammar (which appears to be Evans' project) by analysing Chomsky quotes, since the project has now become mostly what people have actually done on the basis of their own interpretation of Chomsky's ideas and those of others inspired by or reacting to him (Lambek, Montague, even Solomonoff). Formal semantics for example is now definitely part of mainstream GG, in spite of the scepticism that C himself has always had towards it (and FS is essentially as far as I can see a Lambek/Montague-based program).<br /><br />Now if you could show that the PCC doesn't exist, that Andrews (1982)'s account of agreement with nominative objects in Icelandic was way better than that of Sigurdsson and Holmberg (2008) (Agreement and Person are separate probes), that Agnostopoulou's 2003 work on indirect objects was rubbish and a severe regression from traditional grammar, etc etc, then, you'd be taking down current minimalist GG in a convincing way (but I don't think that any of these projects, nor innumerable similar ones that a different person than me might have suggested, are feasible).AveryAndrewshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17701162517596420514noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5275657281509261156.post-15937742113764605372014-12-24T18:13:20.206-08:002014-12-24T18:13:20.206-08:00Interesting exchange indeed, thank you for the lin...Interesting exchange indeed, thank you for the link. It is hard to believe that someone as familiar with Chomsky's work as Dr. Pesetsky would not know that for virtually everything Chomsky says one can find a quote by Chomsky saying the opposite. But, since there seems to be a genuine need, I am working on a documentation of this outstanding feature of Chomsky's work [not to worry it will be all documented with direct quotes] Which brings me to a question. You claim: "It's not kosher to put words into other's mouths. The words used to hang someone must be their own. Chomsky is especially careful to quote his sources when he goes after them. He footnotes heavily and quotes extensively. It would be nice if his opponents were as gracious." <br /><br />Could you be so kind and provide such quotes from Chomsky's recent book "The Science of Language" where he quotes extensively - so his critics can learn how it is done properly? Especially appreciated are quotes regarding the allegedly common theory of language evolution [p. 15], the distortion of Elman's work [p. 226], the crazy theory of Dummett [p. 57], the allegedly irrational scientists referred to on p. 123. If you are unable to find quotes, maybe you could ask Chomsky to "immediately retract these claims publicly or show how what he says comports with ... the actual content of [these and countless other authors'] claims. It is the honorable thing to do". <br /><br />Thanks, and have a merry Christmas!<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03443435257902276459noreply@blogger.com