语言模型不是取代语言学，而是推动其重新思考语言结构与学习机制。
How Linguistics Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Language Models
- 用语言模型作为梯度化、使用基础的理论验证平台。
- 实证表明语言模型能揭示语言结构与处理的深层规律。
- 适合对语言习得和认知机制感兴趣的学者参考。
语言模型能够生成流畅且语法正确的文本。尽管如此，仍有人认为语言模型并未真正学习语言，即使学会了，也无助于研究人类的语言习得与处理。另一方面，也有观点认为语言模型的成功意味着无需再研究语言理论与结构。本文认为这两种极端看法均不正确。语言模型可为语言结构、语言处理与学习等根本性问题提供新视角，促使语言学重新审视其核心论点与思维方式。虽然语言模型不能替代语言理论与结构，但它们是梯度化、使用基础语言观的模型系统与概念验证工具。本文对语言模型与语言学的关系持乐观态度。
原文摘要 · Abstract (English)
Language models can produce fluent, grammatical text. Nonetheless, some maintain that language models don't really learn language and also that, even if they did, that would not be informative for the study of human learning and processing. On the other side, there have been claims that the success of LMs obviates the need for studying linguistic theory and structure. We argue that both extremes are wrong. LMs can contribute to fundamental questions about linguistic structure, language processing, and learning. They force us to rethink arguments and ways of thinking that have been foundational in linguistics. While they do not replace linguistic structure and theory, they serve as model systems and working proofs of concept for gradient, usage-based approaches to language. We offer an optimistic take on the relationship between language models and linguistics.
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