Benennen – Verorten – Abgrenzen: Sprachliche Praktiken zur Konstitution neuer Ansätze als Teil der Germanistischen Linguistik

Abstract The process of scientific knowledge generation is accompanied by an on-going transformation of the corresponding scientific discipline. Scientists develop new theories and methods and discard old ones. Thus, scientific disciplines can be considered as a result of negotiations within the scientific community. The paper focuses on the following questions: Which theories, methods and sub-disciplines do scientists regard as part of a scientific discipline? How do scientists label and define these theories, methods and sub-disciplines? Which linguistic practices do scientists apply to authorize new scientific approaches? With recourse to “The Genesis and Development of a Scientific Fact” by Ludwik Fleck as well as “Epistemic cultures” and “The manufacture of knowledge” by Karin Knorr-Cetina, the paper shows why it is reasonable to see science as a social practice. It also discusses the role language plays when linguists try to establish new approaches and focuses on the linguistic practices of labeling, locating and defininig.