Is linguistics empirical?

This paper continues the discussion (see 38:1968; 40:2837) of issues raised by Braine's theory of "contextual generalization." The arguments for analyzing the English declarative as transformationally generated are discussed at length. Broader issues about the nature of confirmation of claims made by grammars are also considered. It is argued that while the direct experimental verification of such claims is often not feasible, considerations of simplicity and generality can provide adequate grounds for their empirical confirmation or disconfirmation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved).