Re: GRAMMAR: Checklist hoi!

On Sun, 23 Jan 2005 11:28:47 -0800, Arthaey Angosii <arthaey@...> wrote:
> Emaelivpeith Edward Miller:
> > My question is: do any of you have a personal "checklist" of grammar
> > functions you have to address whenever you start a conlang?
> > Specifically phrases (infinitive, prepositional, apposative, etc.).
>
> I would first point you to "Describing Morphosyntax" by Thomas E.
> Payne. It talks about all sorts of areas of grammar and how various
> languages (including non-IE ones!) handle the topic.
>
> If you just want different sentences to translate, then I might direct
> you to the new page I'm beginning to compile at
>
>     http://arthaey.mine.nu:8080/~arthaey/conlang/translationex.html
Thanks much for the Thomas Payne reference: it has already proven
itself a great help. I had thought you were referring to the
Revolutionary Author of "Common Sense", Thomas Paine, so I was
confused for a moment! =-)

It is interesting that languages throughout the world all seem to mold
themselves into forms that can accommodate all these sets of ideas. I
suppose the complexity of their grammar relies upon how separately the
concepts are classed,  such as a separate class for adjectives in
English, wherein other languages they are merely a subclass of nouns.

Perhaps this is merely a trait of human collaboration: if you need to
say "Don't poke me with that dreaded stick", then you're gonna figure
out a way to say it, eh?

-Edward

(G-mail user: reply to list, not me ^_~)