CAUSAL EXPLANATIONS OF LINGUISTIC BEHAVIOR

A careful study of explanations in historical linguistics can help to illuminate the general problem of causal explanation in the social sciences. Explanations in historical linguistics are typical of a large class of explanations in the social sciences in three respects: (1) Normally, they do not invoke human intentions; (2) They appeal to multiple direct and indirect causes that both contribute to and counteract the features to be explained; (3) Their scientific credibility is enhanced in part through their relationship with other disciplines