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Re: Computer syntax and VSO

From:Thomas R. Wier <trwier@...>
Date:Wednesday, February 18, 2004, 8:41
From:    Rob Haden <magwich78@...>
> I've read (though I can't remember where) that most languages with SVO word > order are really just switching from VSO to SOV or vice-versa. This seems > to support the thesis that VSO and SOV (that is, consistently head-first or > head-last) are the most logical canonical word orders.
That claim has nothing to do with "logical canonical word order" and everything to do with a particular theoretical stance of Minimalists, among others. Even those who advocate some kind of universal underlying word order, like Kayne, do not suggest that this is somehow more "logical" than other possible orderings. ========================================================================= Thomas Wier "I find it useful to meet my subjects personally, Dept. of Linguistics because our secret police don't get it right University of Chicago half the time." -- octogenarian Sheikh Zayed of 1010 E. 59th Street Abu Dhabi, to a French reporter. Chicago, IL 60637