1d ago

R. Thomas McCoy, assistant professor of linguistics at Yale University with computer science affiliations, posts arXiv commentary arguing language models can instantiate formal generative theories as well as usage-based ones

The work is an open peer commentary on Futrell and Mahowald.

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Original post
OPTom McCoy#834Tom McCoy@RTOMMCCOY

🤖🧠 New commentary 🧠🤖 What role should large language models (LLMs) play in linguistics? I reflect on this question in a piece now on arXiv: http://arxiv.org/abs/2605.10061 To appear in BBS as a commentary on @rljfutrell and @kmahowald's excellent piece on LLMs & Linguistics!

Screenshot of the title and abstract of a paper. Title: "Not-So-Strange Love: Language Models and Generative Linguistic Theories are More Compatible than They Appear" Further information: "Open Peer Commentary on “How Linguistics Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Language Models” by Richard Futrell and Kyle Mahowald" Author: R. Thomas McCoy Abstract: Futrell and Mahowald (2025) frame the success of neural language models (LMs) as supporting gradient, usage-based linguistic theories. I argue that LMs can also instantiate theories based on formal structures - the types of theories seen in the generative tradition. This argument expands the space of theories that can be tested with LMs, potentially enabling reconciliations between usage-based and generative accounts.
8:14 AM · May 18, 2026 View on X
Reposted by
Tal Linzen#224@TALLINZEN