The Philosophical Investigation of Linguistic Theory

FAIN: FA-12274-78

Scott Soames
Princeton University (Princeton, NJ 08540-5228)

This project will deal with the dilemma presented by, on one hand, contemporary theories of generative grammar well-supported by their success in describing natural languages. On the other, the mentalistic interpretations of these theories is problematic and has been used to cast doubt on them. The aim of the project is to resolve this dilemma by developing an account of grammars and linguistic theories that does not presuppose their psychological reality.