FB Linguistik mit Schwerpunkt auf Syntax und Semantik im Wintersemester 2024/25 an der Paris Lodron Universität Salzburg

Dienstag, 10. Dezember 2024 | 18:30 Uhr | Hörsaal Anna Bahr-Mildenburg (E.004) | Erzabt-Klotz-Straße 1, Unipark Nonntal | 5020 Salzburg

Wunderkammer Sprache: Unity behind diversity

Studies of language are very diverse, employing a variety of tools, methodologies, and technologies, depending on what aspect of language one wishes to investigate. Theoretical linguistics, in particular generative linguistics, has as its main goal a theory of what it means to know a language, in other words, a theory of human cognition pertaining to language. In recent years, developments of artificial intelligence, specifically very large language models [vLLMs], have raised questions about the value of linguistic research in light of the impressive advances these models have made. One purpose of this talk is to highlight the importance, relevance, and vitality of generative linguistics. I lay out the goals and some of the major achievements of theoretical linguistics, and show that these are not comparable (neither in content nor in quality) to those of vLLMs. The main conclusions I put forward are that theoretical linguistics and vLLMs are not competitors in any sense, but operate side-by-side (with claims to the contrary often being fed by disinformation), and that a mutual engagement of these models with each other’s methods and results could lead to new findings and help both approaches develop further.