Response to Elder-Vass: “Seven Ways to be A Realist about Language”

Given that explicitly realist perspectives are currently quite unfashionable in
applied linguistics, we very much welcome your thorough and careful discussion
of the various forms they might take. We find the various categories you identify
quite persuasive, and we find much to agree with in your characterisation of
several of the positions you outline, particularly in the earlier part of the paper.
However, we do take issue with aspects of your characterisation of both “social”
and “linguistic systems” realism, and with some of the arguments you adduce
particularly against the latter and in favour of your seventh way (“linguistic norm
circles realism”). Our response, then, concentrates particularly on the challenges
arising from these parts of your paper, and addresses: (1) the ways in which we
may define language itself, for the purposes of this debate; (2) the distinction
between social and linguistic norms; (3) the properties of language; (4) the role of empirical evidence; and (5) the methodological problems we find with the norm circle approach.