Re: average syllables per word?

> I think English has fewer syllables per word--on average--than most
> languages.  In the process of conlanging, how does one know what is a
> realistic average ratio of syllables per word--ie, in comparison with
> naturally evolved tongues?  Does anyone know the average syllables per
word
> across a large sample of languages?
A thought experiment/hypothesis:

  [number of syllable permutations]
x [average syllables per word]
= [constant value]

This is totaly untested, but it *feels* right. After all, English has a
huge number of valid syllables, many of which aren't even used - twoib
being an example. Contrast that with Japanese, which has about 200 valid
syllables[1], and an impressive number of long wordfs, my favourite of
which is tabesaseraremashitara, with 10 syllables, 8 of which are an
inflected suffix.

[1] I count a syllable here as a vowel, with optional consonants before
and/or after the vowel. Insert semivowels, glides, and affricatives as
desired to round out the definition.

---
Fabian
Rule One: Question the unquestionable,
ask the unaskable, eff the ineffable,
think the unthinkable, and screw the inscrutable.