Axiomatic Functionalism: Theory and Application

Axiomatic functionalism is a highly distinctive and challenging approach in the European functionalist tradition, which has been developed over the last 50 years. It emphasises clarity and accuracy of theory and methods with philosophical awareness for the analysis of languages. Axiomatic Functionalism is even more relevant at a time when functionalism is widely adopted and speculative universalism is being refuted. This book gives a clear orientation in the Axiomatic Functionalist approach with a new introduction, recent previously unpublished work, the latest version of the theory, a reference bibliography, key previously published articles, and an assessment of the contribution of Axiomatic Functionalism. The book covers the key areas of theory, methods, grammar, phonology, and semantics. It provides clear perspectives on a wide range of fundamental and current issues in linguistics.

Autorentext

Ale Bi an, Masaryk University, Czech Republic and Institute of the Czech Language, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, specialises on phonetics, phonology and etymology. He has published articles in La Linguistiqueand Zeitschrift für Slawistik.
Paul Rastall, formerly Principal Lecturer at Portsmouth University (UK) and Visiting Fellow at City University of Hong Kong, and author of seven books with numerous articles in specialist journals and main research interests in functionalist theory, epistemology, and English. He has taught in UK, Sudan, Japan, Hong Kong, and China.

Inhalt
Contents: Ale Bian/Paul Rastall: Axiomatic Functionalism - History, philosophy and contributions to the approach Jan W. F. Mulder: How real are linguistic entities? Jan W. F. Mulder: Effective methodology and effective phonological description Ale Bian: Distributional unit: Hypothesis and testing Jan W. F. Mulder: An unorthodox view of the English verbal system Paul Rastall: Realisational sequences in grammar Sheena Gardner/Sándor G. J. Hervey: Structural sentence types Sándor G. J. Hervey: Sentences and linguistic data Sándor G. J. Hervey: Notions in the manipulation of non-denotational meaning in speech Jan W. F. Mulder: Axiomatic Functionalism and reections on key questions in linguistics Paul Rastall: «Theory» in linguistics - Strengths and weaknesses in Axiomatic Functionalism Jan W. F. Mulder/Sándor G. J. Hervey: Postulates for Axiomatic Functionalism Ale Bian: Bibliography of Axiomatic Functionalism (Compiled by Ale Bian).