Elements of the philosophy of science for the characterization of the current Chilean linguistic production (2008-2010)

Authors

  • Patricia Ojeda Universidad de Chile, Facultad de Filosofía y Humanidades, Departamento de Lingüística, Av. Cap. Ignacio Carrera Pinto 1025, Ñuñoa, Santiago
  • Cristián Lagos Universidad de Chile, Facultad de Filosofía y Humanidades, Departamento de Lingüística, Av. Cap. Ignacio Carrera Pinto 1025, Ñuñoa, Santiago

Abstract

This paper summarizes the results of a study that analyzed the production of Chilean linguistics journals published during the years 2008-2010, aiming at establishing the theoretical approach that the philosophy of science can provide for the characterization of the production in the discipline and interpretation of trends, basis for a first, necessary and healthy disciplinary discussion. 362 articles were analyzed using a matrix that considered the following categories: humanistscientistic conception of linguistics, epistemic commitments, subject area and assumptions about language. The results show remarkable differences of traditions of traditions concerning the scientific and humanistic dimensions. The division has its roots in the genesis of our discipline in which the first one strongly dominates over the latter; additionally, it was possible to identify a marked tendency to approach language from hypothetical deductivist, quantitative and positivist models.

Keywords:

philosophy of science, linguistics, epistemic commitment, critical linguistics, linguistics in Chile