Vol. 58 No. 2 (2010)
Research Article

Is a Theory of Names Possible?

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  • John Algeo
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1179/002777310X12682237915106

Published 2010-06-01

Copyright (c) 2010 Maney Publishing

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Abstract

Abstract

A theory is needed in any systematic study to guide those working in the field. Theories are of two types: strong or scientific, which contain an experimental procedure for potentially disproving the theory, and weak or general, which are incapable of disproof but are still useful guidelines for study. Onomastics, like linguistics generally, is capable of only a weak theory. Seven desiderata for a theory of names are suggested.

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References

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  2. Pike, Kenneth L. 1967. “Language in Relation to a Unified Theory of the Structure of Human Behavior.” 2nd ed. The Hague: Mouton.
  3. Pike, Kenneth L. 1982. Linguistic Concepts: An Introduction to Tagmemics. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press.
  4. Sullivan, William J. 1977. Review of On Defining the Proper Name, by John Algeo. Forum Linguisticum, 2: 79–92.