Exploring Framework Bias: The Case of Minimalism vs. Parallel Architecture in Studies on Language Evolution

In: Studia Universitatis Babeş-Bolyai. Philologia, Band 69, Heft 1, S. 253-264

Abstract

Exploring Framework Bias: The Case of Minimalism Vs Parallel Architecture in Studies on Language Evolution. The present paper explores the issue of framework bias through the analysis of two lines of study concerning language evolution, one framed by the Minimalist program and one by the proposal of Parallel Architecture of language. Framework bias, as proposed in this study, raises the question of the degree to which the theoretical framework chosen for a certain line of research will influence the design of an experiment, the selection of data, and therefore the analysis and final results. The studies presented in this paper tackle the same topic (language evolution) using the same parameters for research (gradual versus saltational evolution; continuation versus exaptation; and unique versus shared property) but reach significantly different conclusions because of their respective theoretical framework.
Keywords: framework bias, Minimalism, Parallel Architecture, language evolution