Reviewed by Margaret J. Blake, Aarhus University, Denmark

The contributions to this volume investigate linguistics empirically and scientifically, using data-driven rather than theory-driven methods.

This book consists of seven parts. Parts 1 and 7 (‘Orientation to hard-science linguistics’ and ‘Disciplinary considerations’, respectively) are the philosophical and methodological core of the work. All of the chapters in Parts 1 and 7 are written by the editors. Parts 2–6 (‘Reconstituting phonetics-phonology’, ‘In search of context’, ‘Variational and historical linguistics’, ‘Social and psychological issues’, and ‘Practical applications’, respectively) contain efforts to put scientific methodology into practice in areas of classical linguistics as well as in areas in which linguistics intersects literary studies. Unfortunately, Parts 2–6 contain contributions from researchers who have been won over to the hard-science paradigm, rather than those who are already doing empirical, experimentally-focused work in areas such as psycholinguistics, neurolinguistics, or even sociolinguistics.

The contrast between Parts 1 and 7 and Parts 2–6 is striking. I almost wish that the editors had turned this volume into two books: one slim textbook, consisting of Parts 1 and 7, suitable for inexpensive purchase by undergraduates and new philosophical converts, and an expanded volume, including Parts 2–6 as well as contributions from psycholinguists, neurolinguists, and sociolinguists, which would have lent credence to this otherwise admirable attempt at promoting a paradigm shift in linguistics.

This volume, while slightly lacking, is an important philosophical contribution to the field. Scholars who wish to see the scientific approach to language would do well to read this volume.