A critical view on a classical approach: Empirical data collection in linguistics

Abstract

This paper takes both a diachronic and a synchronic perspective on the empirical approach while exploring the emerging field of Albanology. While still applying methods elaborated during the 1960s, Albanian dialectology is considered widely researched. Other linguistic areas have focused on idiomatic written language, mainly that of print media (e.g., belletristic literature). Precisely because of this, in my view, spoken forms of Albanian have received only little attention. Empiricism in linguistics is as old as the field itself, but with that tradition comes an almost stubborn limitation to only a couple of methods applied. This needs to change, as empiricism is now present in all areas of science and has been revolutionized by digitalization.