Re: CHAT: _Describing Morphosyntax_

> ------------------------------
>
> Date:    Fri, 27 Aug 2004 19:40:22 +0200
> From:    Carsten Becker <naranoieati@...>
> Subject: Re: CHAT: _Describing Morphosyntax_
>
> Hey!
>
> On Thursday 26 August 2004 23:10, David Peterson wrote:
>
>  > One of the most helpful things about the book in my
>  > opinion are the questions at the end of each section.
>  > You should be able to answer every question if it
>  > were posed to you about your conlang.   If you can't
>  > answer a few of them, then you know what you have to
>  > do next.  :)  Also, if you have no ideas on a particular
>  > subject, there are lots of examples from lots of
>  > different languages right there for you.
>
>                      ... and ...
>
> On Thursday 26 August 2004 21:20, Paul Bennett wrote:
>
>  > What I find really good is that it's a "How to write a
>  > reference grammar" guide. Therefore, following the layout
>  > of the sections in the book will let you know what is
>  > needed[*] in order to have a "complete" conlang.
>  > Furthermore, following the text within the sections will
>  > give you lots of nifty knowledge and inspiration about
>  > different ways to actually implement the various
>  > requirements of a complete grammar.
>
> Cool!
>
>  > My advice is to read it through cover-to-cover at least
>  > once before you start dipping into it as a reference
>  > book. IMO, you can only really appreciate its power by
>  > immersing yourself into it.
>
> That'll need some efford, but I'll try it.
>
> Carsten
Boy, you said a mouthful there, Carsten!  I followed that advice and
read _Describing Morphosyntax_ all the way through.  But, I'm an almost
total non-linguist.  I mean, I've never had a formal class in
linguistics and what tiny bit I know I dragged, kicking and screaming,
from some of the driest textbooks I have ever read.  Unfortunately,
_Describing Morphosyntax_ is one of those, for me.  It's an utterly
fascinating book with loads of fabulous information, but it was like
pulling teeth to read.
All that being said, though, it still is probably better to read it all
the way through once, if you can.  But, if it gets to be too much, don't
hesitate to start reading only the bits that sound interesting.  Better
to read at least that than ignore the book entirely!

Good luck!
Jim

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