typological classification remarks fritz newmeyer posting classification language typology course always easy decide type given language assigned since may conflicting criteria people seem think somehow deep problem language typology reality deep problem typological literature quite right dwelling trivial methodological points much concentrating substantive theoretical issues instead true methodology language typology somewhat different methodology used singlelanguage studies linguists engange searching significant correlations features parameters world language one classify languages languages one looks less energy one spend resolving individual case clearly speacialist sometimes disagree way language assigned time specialists agree right classification criteria conflict may sometimes necessary give weight others somewhat arbitrary way simply one reflection necessary idealization accompanies serious scientific endeavor simple one studies linguistic phenomena breadth one loses depth vice versa linguists study one languages working extremely narrow basis lose breadth gain depth ideally typological research conducted teams linguists much way research big science organized resources combined one could study linguistic phenomena considerable breadth depth simultaneously attempt follow strategy made european science programme language typology running europe past five years wait 10 volumes typology european languages appear mouton de gruyter year time modest seriously underfunded attempt attract really big research money manage agree things happy colleagues like johanna nichols willing make enormous efforts get view linguistic phenomena global scale martin haspelmath free university berlin