Problems and Mysteries in the Study of Human Language

Abstract

I would like to distinguish roughly between two kinds of issues that arise in the study of language and mind: those that appear to be within the reach of approaches and concepts that are moderately well understood — what I will call “problems”; and others that remain as obscure to us today as when they were originally formulated — what I will call “mysteries.” The distinction reflects in part a subjective evaluation of what has been achieved or might be achieved in terms of ideas now available. Others see mysteries, incoherence and confusion where to me the issues seem rather clear and straightforward, and conversely.