Influence of behaviorism to American descriptive linguistics

【Abstract】This paper discusses the influence of the behaviorism on American descriptive linguistics through the analysis of the tenets of behaviorism and the Bloomfields stimulus-response theory and tries to give an fair comment on the influence of the behaviorism on American descriptive linguistics.

【Key words】behaviorism； American descriptive linguistics； Bloomfield

1.Introduction

The 1920s witnessed a revolution in psychology in which J.B.Watsons behaviorist theory replaced mentalism.Behaviorism had a profound impact at that time.Its influence infiltrated into linguistics and contributed the establishment and development of American descriptive linguistics.This paper tries to probe the influence of behaviorism to American descriptive linguistics，focusing on the exposition of the “stimulus-response”theory of Bloomfield， and comments objectively on the behaviorisms influence on American descriptive linguistics.

2.Behaviorism

Behaviorism is an approach to psychology that combines elements of philosophy， methodology， and theory.It emerged in the early twentieth century as a reaction to "mentalistic" psychology， which often had difficulty making predictions that could be tested using rigorous experimental methods.The primary tenet of behaviorism is that “the only things valid enough to confirm or refute a scientific theory are interpersonally observable phenomena， rather than peoples introspections or ‘intuitions”（Liu&Feng， 2002：169）.One of the most important figures in the field of behaviorist psychology is J.B.Watson.With his "behaviorism"， Watson put the emphasis on external behavior of people and their reactions on given situations， rather than the internal， mental state of those people.He believed that all responses are conditional，and that even all the rules in the universe are conditional.We experience all kinds of stimuli and responses in our daily life and come to associate certain stimuli with responses.This is the stimulus-response theory， through which Bloomfield gained inspirations for his “stimulus-response”theory in linguistics.

3.Behaviorism and American descriptive linguistics

Behaviorist methodology had a particular and profound influence on descriptive linguistics in America， whose founder was Bloomfield.Leonard Bloomfield is a landmark figure in the history of American linguistics.As a principal representative of American descriptive linguistics， his significance towards American linguistic field is just like Saussure towards European linguistic field.The period between 1933-1950 is known as the Bloomfieldian Age， in which American descriptive linguistics formally came into being and reached its prime development.Influenced by the prevailing behaviorist psychology of the time， the behaviorist practice of relying on what is objective （observable and testifiable data） rather than on what is subjective （individualistic intuition or retrospection） provides a scientific basis for psychology and linguistics.He insisted to be empirical and objective in his approach.The only reliable language facts to be analyzed must be immediately observable and verifiable.Based on this， the Bloomfield school has a set of strict methods of investigation and description.Their inductive methods produce impartial and accurate statistics， giving no generalisatioins apart from the observed data.Linguistics of later times comment the greatest contribution of Bloomfield is that he made the study of language into a science.It is an undisputed fact that Bloomfield adopted the methodology of behaviorist psychology to his language studies， which was mainly embodied in his stimulus-response theory.

Bloomfields linguistic theories were mainly influenced by Watsons and Weisss behaviorist thoughts.In 1933， Bloomfield published Language， which has exerted such a great influence on the formation and development of American descriptive linguistics that it has been acclaimed as a classic in modern linguistics.In his book， Bloomfield tried to account for the production and interpretation of speech with the “stimulus-response”theory.He conceived of language as a complex of stimulus-response relationships.Any object in our general environment or any change in our physiological condition can constitute a stimulus.The whole system of resulting organic activity is the response.Language mediates in these stimulus-response relationships， since language presents an unlimited variety of responses to external or internal stimuli but also constitutes stimuli for environmental bodily responses.His stimulus-response theory is illustrated by the famous formula：S→r...s→R.Here， “S”stands for practical stimulus， “r”stands for the substitute reaction of speech， “s”stands for the substitute stimulus， and “R”stands for external practical reaction.

This formula vividly illustrates the process of language production and interpretations as well as the function of language in society， but he just considered them as a stimulus-response mechanism which over-simplifies the process of language production and language comprehension and unable to explain the complicated processes of human thought.

It is true that behaviorism has a significant influence on American descriptive linguistics， mainly reflecting on Bloomfields theories，but we should not exaggerate that influence.In fact，as we have mentioned before，the influence of behaviorist methodology was mainly reflected on his explanation of language behavior.As for other aspects of his language studies，especially in his experiments of language description and analysis， the influence of behaviorism is very little （Xiong， 2005：54）.For instance， in language，except in the second chapter “the use of language”（e.g.the stimulus-response theory） and the ninth chapter “meaning”，we can hardly discern the shadow of behaviorism.In addition，in his other articles，he mentioned some thoughts of behaviorist psychology only when speaking of the social function of language （e.g.Bloomfield[1942]） and the topic of meaning （e.g.Bloomfield[1943]）.

Substantially， the reason why Bloomfield adopted the viewpoints of behaviorist psychology to explain language behavior is that the methodology of behaviorist studies is consistent with his language study method through which he strove to make linguistic a science，but he equated scientific objectivity and methodology with direct and observable phenomena （Qi，1982：26）.He strongly advocated positivism，determinism，and mechanism， thus holding that to attribute all the inexplicable to the workings of the mind is to practise superstition， which will bring about serious consequences to scientific research （Liu&Feng， 2002：169）.Although it is indispensable for linguistic studies to collect and record language facts，but only focusing on the observable materials is far from enough，because observation can only consider things in a superficial level，but not come to its essences.Overlooking the theoretical thinking would not only fail to reveal the complicated relations within language， but also restrain linguists subjective initiatives in cognition.

In short， it is rather to be said that descriptive linguists borrow a rigorous scientific attitude from behaviorist psychology.Though Bloomfields particular methodology of descriptive linguistics was not widely accepted，his mechanistic attitudes toward a precise science of linguistics，dealing only with observable phenomena， were most influential.His commitment spirit to work as well as his strict and careful scientific approach were worthy of praise and respect.

4.Conclusion

Undoubtedly， the establishment and advancement of American descriptive linguistics was around the tenets of behaviorist psychology， but we should not overestimate the influence of behaviorism and treat it in a fair and objective way.It is the methodology and the scientific attitude of behaviorist study that really count.Bloomfield will always be remembered for his dedication to linguistic work and his rigorous scientific attitude.His great contribution to American descriptive linguistics makes him go down in history.

Reference：

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作者简介：牟莹莹，女，（1991.10—），壮族，广西南宁人，湖南师范大学，研究生在读，研究方向：英语语言文学、翻译学。