Modelling Language
Jumbly Grindrod
This paper argues that large language models have a valuable scientific role
to play in serving as scientific models of a language. Linguistic study should
not only be concerned with the cognitive processes behind linguistic
competence, but also with language understood as an external, social entity.
Once this is recognized, the value of large language models as scientific
models becomes clear. This paper defends this position against a number of
arguments to the effect that language models provide no linguistic insight. It
also draws upon recent work in philosophy of science to show how large language
models could serve as scientific models.