on the epistemological nature of historical linguistics...

[Allan Bomhard]

I would like to make an observation about Gonzalo Rubio's statements about
cranks, cooks, crazies, etc.  Linguistics is indeed not the only discipline
plagued by dilettantes and amateurs, as has been pointed out by others who
have posted to this list.  However, ever so often, along comes the likes of
Hermann Grassmann, Charles Ives, Thomas Alva Edison, Benjamin Lee Whorf, and
many others -- amateurs all.  They are rare, but ever so often, gifted
individuals do appear from the ranks of amateurs.