Abstract In this paper, variation is defined as a type having more than one subtype. Using twelve examples from linguistics, two kinds of accounts are identified: eliminating variants and motivating them. Eliminating variants means a subtype is promoted to a type. Motivating variation in turn involves acknowledging the existence of the variants and explaining their existence either by reference to their differing meanings or by identifying the different contexts they occur in. The general applicability of these two ways of dealing with variation is shown by examples from other fields of study and from everyday life.

中文翻译：

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解释语言差异

摘要本文将变异定义为具有多个子类型的类型。使用来自语言学的十二个例子，确定了两种解释：消除变体并激发它们。消除变体意味着将亚型提升为一种类型。促使变化的动机包括承认变体的存在并通过参考它们的不同含义或通过识别它们所处的不同环境来解释它们的存在。这两种处理变异的方法的普遍适用性通过其他领域的例子来说明。学习和日常生活。