Reanalytic

Reanalytic is a term used in linguistic theory to describe a methodological stance that emphasizes the reanalysis of linguistic data to reveal underlying structures and processes. Proponents argue that reanalysis can expose generalizations that surface-descriptive accounts might obscure. The term is used mainly in discussions of syntax, morphology, and historical change, though its approach has potential relevance to other analytic disciplines.

From re- (again) and analytic, the word signals a shift from surface description toward reconsideration of data in light of theoretical assumptions. The term first appeared in scholarly discourse in the 2010s, though its precise usage varies across subfields.

Reanalytic practice typically involves iterative data collection and re-evaluation, cross-linguistic comparison, and formal testing of hypotheses about underlying representations. It aims to produce explicit analytic theories rather than sole catalogs of surface phenomena, often integrating corpus studies, experimental results, and historical texts.

In historical linguistics, reanalytic analyses may reinterpret sound changes or morpheme boundaries. In psycholinguistics, it can model how readers or listeners reconstruct underlying forms during processing. In typology, researchers use reanalysis to derive broad generalizations that accommodate atypical or overlooked data.

Critics caution that reanalytic work risks circularity if analyses are driven by preconceived theories, and may raise concerns about replicability and data selection. Supporters emphasize transparent methodology, preregistration of hypotheses, and explicit criteria for reanalysis to mitigate bias.

See also analytic, reanalysis, linguistics, historical linguistics, cognitive science.