Theory and research in phonology: a question of alternatives

Abstract

I've asked to go first because I wanted to open this discussion with some very general remarks about the relation between theory and research . In fact, what I propose to share with you is what I consider to be the most important lesson I've learned about research. I learned it many years ago, and oddly enough I didn't learn it from a linguist, philosopher, or scholar of any official strip. Actually, I learned it from a guy named Sherlock Holmes.