Details

Large language models as phenomenotechniques for linguistics
ID Krašovec, Primož (Author)

.pdfPDF - Presentation file, Download (314,02 KB)
MD5: AF15400623DE44F46748EA8C726FDB21
URLURL - Source URL, Visit https://journals.uni-lj.si/arshumanitas/article/view/28649 This link opens in a new window

Abstract
With the help of Bachelard’s concept of phenomenotechnique – meaning an artificial, technological set-up that forces a certain part of reality to reveal itself in a way that can be scientifically observed – this paper tries to theorize large language models (LLMs) as a kind of “epistemological mirrors” that make symbolic language (as a foundation of culture) observable in an unprecedented way. Consequently, LLMs have (besides their known and attested commercial value) immense epistemological value for the humanities since they allow for an alterna-tive way of studying language learning, generation, and structure that can supplement classic linguistic techniques. LLMs can thus be used to reassess the relevance of exist-ing linguistic theories and update them as well as to start developing new theories of language. The paper develops its thesis through a refutation of a common objection to LLMs – that they have no “true” understanding of language since they possess no relation to the outside world – and by showing that real-world relations are irrelevant for hu-man language as well. Consequently, linguistic theories (such as structuralism) that understood language outside of such a framework are once again relevant for a new understanding of symbolic language and culture that LLMs allow.

Language:English
Keywords:phenomenotechnique, language, large language models, symbolic culture, linguistics, structuralism
Typology:1.01 - Original Scientific Article
Organization:FF - Faculty of Arts
Publication status:Published
Publication version:Version of Record
Publication date:10.07.2026
Year:2026
Number of pages:Str. 9-22
Numbering:Letn. 20, št. 1
PID:20.500.12556/RUL-184723 This link opens in a new window
UDC:316.74:004.8
ISSN on article:1854-9632
DOI:10.4312/ars.20.1.9-22 This link opens in a new window
COBISS.SI-ID:284788483 This link opens in a new window
Publication date in RUL:14.07.2026
Views:230
Downloads:96
Metadata:XML DC-XML DC-RDF
:
Copy citation
Share:Bookmark and Share

Record is a part of a journal

Title:Ars & humanitas : revija za umetnost in humanistiko
Publisher:Znanstvena založba Filozofske fakultete, Znanstvena založba Filozofske fakultete, Založba Univerze v Ljubljani
ISSN:1854-9632
COBISS.SI-ID:233246720 This link opens in a new window

Licences

License:CC BY-SA 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International
Link:http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
Description:This Creative Commons license is very similar to the regular Attribution license, but requires the release of all derivative works under this same license.

Secondary language

Language:Slovenian
Abstract:
S pomočjo Bachelardovega koncepta fenomenotehnike – ki pomeni umetno, tehnološko postavitev, ki prisili določeni del resničnosti, da se razkrije na način, ki ga je mo-goče znanstveno opazovati – skuša članek teoretsko opredeliti velike jezikovne modele (VJM) kot »epistemološka ogledala«, ki omogočajo, da postane simbolni jezik (kot temelj kulture) dostopen za opazovanje na doslej neznan način. Posledično imajo veliki jezikovni modeli (poleg znane in potrjene komercialne vrednosti) izjemno epistemološko vrednost za humanistiko, saj omogočajo alternativen način preučevanja učenja, izvajanja in strukture jezika, ki lahko dopolni klasične jezikoslovne tehnike. Tako se lahko VJM uporabijo za ponovno oceno ustreznosti ob-stoječih jezikovnih teorij in njihovo posodobitev, pa tudi za razvoj novih teorij jezika. Tezo članka razvijamo z ovržbo pogostega ugovora zoper VJM – da nimajo »resničnega« razumevanja jezika, saj nimajo odnosa do zunanjega sveta – in tako, da pokažemo, da so razmerja do resničnega sveta nepomembna tudi za človeški jezik. Posledično so lingvistične teorije (kot je strukturalizem), ki so jezik razumele zunaj takšnega okvira, ponovno pomembne za novo razumevanje simbolnega jezika in kulture, ki ga omogočajo VJM.

Keywords:fenomenotehnika, jezik, veliki jezikovni modeli, simbolna kultura, jezikoslovje, strukturalizem

Projects

Funder:ARIS - Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency
Project number:P6-0194
Name:Problemi avtonomije in identitet v času globalizacije

Similar documents

Similar works from RUL:
Similar works from other Slovenian collections:

Collection

This document is a part of these collections:
  1. Ars & humanitas

Back