Darwin-L Message Log 1:245 (September 1993)

Academic Discussion on the History and Theory of the Historical Sciences

This is one message from the Archives of Darwin-L (1993–1997), a professional discussion group on the history and theory of the historical sciences.

Note: Additional publications on evolution and the historical sciences by the Darwin-L list owner are available on SSRN.

---

<1:245>From GA3704@SIUCVMB.SIU.EDU  Tue Sep 28 21:50:21 1993

Date: Tue, 28 Sep 93 21:49:06 CST
From: "Margaret E. Winters" <GA3704@SIUCVMB.SIU.EDU>
To: darwin-l@ukanaix.cc.ukans.edu
Subject: directionality of change

In an article published in 1945, J. Kurylowicz talks about
prediction and language (specifically analogical) change.  He
comments that directions of change may be compared to various
paths which rain water may take - there are sewers, gutters,
pipes of various kinds, BUT, if it doesn't rain, they are
not used.  As Sally Thomason said, directionality statements
are reasonably rough predictors of paths (words for body parts
become prepositions ahead, at the back of, in front of...,
but not vice versa). But other factors in language (internal
gaps, contacts...) may or may not favor the change in question.

           Margaret Winters
           <ga3704@siucvmb.siu.edu>

---

Your Amazon purchases help support this website. Thank you!