56,473 research outputs found
Linguistic meta-theory the formal and empirical conditions of acceptability of linguistic theories and descriptions
No full textMost linguists acknowledge, explicitly or implicitly,
the relevance of epistemological questions in
linguistics but relatively few have given more than a
cursory, ad hoc or incomplete consideration to them.
The work of one of those few, Jan Mulder, forms the
starting point for much of the present discussion.
Epistemological considerations arise in many contexts
in linguistics and in many guises. It is an epistemological
matter whenever we test the adequacy of a
description or the acceptability of a theory. Epistemological
considerations are latent whenever we discuss
the form or the content of linguistic theories
and descriptions or their interrelations. The comparison
of different approaches to linguistics inevitably
raises epistemological questions concerning our
approach to linguistics or our presuppositions about it.
These questions are of a general nature and transcend
questions about particular linguistic theories and descriptions.
These epistemological questions force us to
consider what we take linguistics to be. In considering
questions of the type mentioned we are forced, for
example, to analyse what we mean by a "linguistic
theory", a "linguistic description" and what phenomena
we are aiming to understand. We are, furthermore,
forced to analyse the constraints which a scientific
attitude places upon linguistic theorising
and description-building. It is these questions concerning
the acceptability of linguistic theories and
descriptions which we call linguistic meta-theory.
This thesis falls into five main parts. Firstly,
in Chapter One, we consider the nature and scope of
linguistic meta-theory. Secondly, in Chapter Two, we
look at a number of previous approaches to the subject.
Other important contributions are discussed as they
arise in the text. Thirdly, in Chapters Three and
Four, we consider in detail the major meta-theoretical
distinctions in linguistics and their consequences.
In particular, we distinguish linguistic theories
from linguistic descriptions and discuss the nature of
linguistic phenomena. The view is put forward that
linguistics is a scientific subject. The meaning of
this assertion is analysed and the interrelations of
linguistic theories, descriptions and phenomena are
considered in the light of this analysis. The main
epistemological requirement that is put forward and
defended is that of the empiricism of linguistics.
Certain changes in our view of the philosophy of science
and in our view of the form of linguistic theories
and descriptions follow from the conjunction of
these major meta-theoretical positions.
Fourthly, we consider the main meta-theoretical
considerations concerning theories (Chapter Five) and
reject a widespread view of linguistic theory as a
non-empirical study (Chapter Six) and we consider the
main meta-theoretical conditions relating to linguistic
descriptions and some practical examples of description
-building consonant with the general positions adopted
in Chapter Seven. In Chapter Eight, we look at a concrete
example of theory-building in the light of the
meta-theoretical conditions of acceptability previously
set up. We are especially concerned to show how a
theory can meet the condition of being "applicable" or
"indirectly scientific" through the establishment of
acceptable empirical descriptions consonant with the
meta-theoretical conditions on descriptions considered
earlier.
The view that linguistics is a science implies
that we must be concerned with the empirical testing of
descriptions and, so, the fifth part of the work is
devoted to methodology. In Chapter Nine, we defend
the role and necessity of methodology in linguistics
and set up the logical framework of relations between
the methodology and theory descriptions and phenomena.
In Chapter Ten, we examine two of the known types of
empirical testing and their shortcomings. Finally, in
Chapter Eleven, we give an example of the successful
and correct application of a methodology in order to
bring out the nature of empirical testing and to demonstrate
its feasibility within a scientific linguistics
of the sort we imagine
Evidence for the decay B0→J/ψω and measurement of the relative branching fractions of meson decays to J/ψη and J/ψη′
Full text linkFirst evidence of the B 0 → J / ψ ω decay is found and the B s 0 → J / ψ η and B s 0 → J / ψ η ′ decays are studied using a dataset corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.0 fb -1 collected by the LHCb experiment in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of sqrt(s) = 7 TeV. The branching fractions of these decays are measured relative to that of the B 0 → J / ψ ρ 0 decay:frac(B (B 0 → J / ψ ω), B (B 0 → J / ψ ρ 0)) = 0.89 ± 0.19 (stat) - 0.13 + 0.07 (syst),frac(B (B s 0 → J / ψ η), B (B 0 → J / ψ ρ 0)) = 14.0 ± 1.2 (stat) - 1.5 + 1.1 (syst) - 1.0 + 1.1 (frac(f d, f s)),frac(B (B s 0 → J / ψ η ′), B (B 0 → J / ψ ρ 0)) = 12.7 ± 1.1 (stat) - 1.3 + 0.5 (syst) - 0.9 + 1.0 (frac(f d, f s)), where the last uncertainty is due to the knowledge of f d / f s, the ratio of b-quark hadronization factors that accounts for the different production rate of B 0 and B s 0 mesons. The ratio of the branching fractions of B s 0 → J / ψ η ′ and B s 0 → J / ψ η decays is measured to befrac(B (B s 0 → J / ψ η ′), B (B s 0 → J / ψ η)) = 0.90 ± 0.09 (stat) - 0.02 + 0.06 (syst)
CCDC 1957918: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination
No full textRelated Article: Mark A.W. Lawrence, Willem Mulder, Michael J. Celestine, Colin D. McMillen, Alvin A. Holder|2020|Inorg.Chim.Acta|506|119497|doi:10.1016/j.ica.2020.11949
Parasyntax and the sentential level in axiomatic functionalism
No full textThis thesis is presented as a contribution to the St Andrews School
of Linguistics, Axiomatic Functionalism, as developed by Mulder and
Hervey. It is essentially a piece of Theoretical Linguistics which
outlines an approach to the hitherto undeveloped areas of Parasyntax
and the Sentential Level in Axiomatic Functionalism.
The theoretical arguments are supported by descriptive hypotheses
concerning the nature of Spoken English. These descriptions are
corpus-based.
The conclusion reached by the author is that not only are Parasyntax
and the Sentential Level distinct in theory (this is axiomatic), but
they are also distinct in their application as regards methodology
and description. This conclusion will undoubtedly prove to be
controversial in the light of recent developments in Axiomatic
Functionalism concerning the Postulates in particular (of which the
author was at the time of writing unaware), and in the light of
other Functionalist approaches to the nature of intonation and
sentences.
It is anticipated that this thesis will be of value to those
interested in Functionalism as well as those concerned with
intonation and the levels of language beyond syntax
Measurement of the B0–B0 oscillation frequency Δmd with the decays B0→D−π+ and B0→ J/ψK∗0
Full text linkThe B
0
–B
0
oscillation frequency Δmd is measured by the LHCb experiment using a dataset corresponding
to an integrated luminosity of 1.0 fb−1
of proton–proton collisions at √
s = 7 TeV, and is found to be
Δmd
=0.5156±0.0051 (stat.)±0.0033 (syst.) ps−1
. The measurement is based on results from analyses
of the decays B
0
→ D
−π
+ (D
−
→ K
+π
−π
−) and B
0
→ J/ψK
∗0
(J/ψ →μ
+μ
−,K
∗0
→ K
+π
−) and
their charge conjugated modes
Search for the rare decays J/y -> D-s(-) rho(+) and J/psi -> <(D)over bar(0)<(K)over bar*(0)
No full textA search for the rare decays of J/psi -> D-S(-) rho(+) + c.c. and J/psi -> D-S(-)rho(+) + c.c.) <1.3 x 10(-5) and beta(J/psi -
A 2 h periodic variation in the low-mass X-ray binary Ser X-1
No full textSpectroscopy of the low-mass X-ray binary Ser X-1 using the Gran Telescopio Canarias have revealed a ?2 h periodic variability that is present in the three strongest emission lines. We tentatively interpret this variability as due to orbital motion, making it the first indication of the orbital period of Ser X-1. Together with the fact that the emission lines are remarkably narrow, but still resolved, we show that a main-sequence K dwarf together with a canonical 1.4 M? neutron star gives a good description of the system. In this scenario, the most likely place for the emission lines to arise is the accretion disc, instead of a localized region in the binary (such as the irradiated surface or the stream-impact point), and their narrowness is due instead to the low inclination (?10°) of Ser X-1
Chapter 3. Classifying clitics in Sm'algyax: Approaching theory from the field
No full textSm’algyax (British Columbia and Alaska) is a highly ergative VAO/VS language with an uncommonly wide range of clitics. This chapter has the two-fold function of demonstrating how Anderson’s (2005) constraint-based analysis of clitics gives insight into the complex behavior of Sm’algyax clitics, and how the clitics themselves afford empirical means of testing such a theory. The Sm’algyax data are drawn from both field research and published texts, reflecting a community-based approach to language documentation that has evolved through a long-term, collaborative relationship with the Tsimshian (Sm’algyax) communities. Building on Stebbin’s (2003) definitions of intermediate word classes in Sm’algyax and Anderson’s Optimality Theoretical approach, we determine that in terms of their varying phonological dependence, Sm’algyax clitics include internal, phonological word, and affixal clitics. The existence of affixal clitics in Sm’algyax, however, calls into question the viability of the Strict Layer Hypothesis (Selkirk 1984) as inviolable rules when describing clitics. Furthermore, Sm’algyax provides strong evidence that the direction of clitic attachment is more clitic specific than language specific. In characterising the behaviour of Sm’algyax clitics, we find that not only does linguistic theory help sharpen our understanding of the fieldwork data, but also that field linguistics has consequences for linguistic theory.National Foreign Language Resource Cente
Search for the weak decays J/psi -> D-s(()*()-) e(+)nu(e) + c.c.
No full textUsing a sample of 2.25 x 10(8) J/psi events collected with the BESIII detector at the BEPCII collider, we search for the J/psi semileptonic weak decay J/psi -> D-s(-) e(+)nu(e) +c.c. with a much higher sensitivity than previous searches. We also perform the first search for J/psi -> D-s(*-) e(+) nu(e) + c.c. No significant excess of a signal above background is observed in either channel. At the 90% confidence level, the upper limits are determined to be B(J/psi -> D-s(-) e(+) nu(e) + c.c.) D-s*(-) e(+) nu(e) + c.c.) <1.8 x 10(-6), respectively. Both are consistent with Standard Model predictions
The R&D Tax Incentives
No full textThis article sets out some background information and reflections of the author on the R&D tax incentive schemes included in the Common Corporate Tax Base (CCTB) Proposal. In particular the author analyzes the stimulus to private R&D through ad hoc tax incentives included in the CCTB Proposal and dives into the actual provisions included in the Proposal highlighting the most relevant issues connected with their design and interpretation. Moreover, the author explores the interaction between the CCTB Proposal and the granting by Member States of domestic R&D tax incentives
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