eclecticism (n.)

The application of this general term in LINGUISTICS is found mainly in relation to MODELS of DESCRIPTION which have been built from a combination of features originating in more than one linguistic theory. For example, QUIRK GRAMMAR is eclectic in that it makes use of concepts and procedures deriving from STRUCTURALIST, TRANSFORMATIONAL and other approaches. Eclectic accounts are justified by the multiple insights they can provide into an area of LANGUAGE. Their main weakness is the difficulty of developing a coherent theoretical framework within which the various descriptive components can be interrelated.