Universal grammar

--- Sally Caves <scaves@...> wrote:
> That may be, but I liked what I heard.  "Sitting
> Echoes" made me feel that I
> was in substantial danger of getting cut by flying
> glass.  A very sensual
> piece, that set me on edge.  "Through the Edge" was
> simply beautiful.  I
> look forward to hearing your more up to date work.
:))) Composers like it when they get positive
comments.

> In the meantime, what
> are your conlanging preferences?
OK...ahem...I admit to a very OT presence lately :P
(Note the change of subject, however :).) I have been
meaning to get around to the following for a few days.

I am a person who loves (make that LOVES) structure.
So it would be natural to believe that grammar and
syntax creation would be no problem for me, right?
Wrong. I have read the "How to create a conlang"
websites and even the lengthy "monograph" of Rick
Morneau (yes, the WHOLE thing -- it was interesting
from a theoretical and practical viewpoint, but not
from an artistic/naturalistic one). I prefer conlangs
that are naturalistic, as mine wants to be.

My problem is that I have a limited knowledge of other
grammars and syntactical methods in natlangs and
conlangs. This of course can be alleviated through
study. But I lack the time (maybe I'm just lazy ;)) ).
Is there a good reference (or set of them) for
grammatical comparisons between languages? How about a
set of Universal grammatical points. (I have googled
for it, but only find philosophical appproaches. I
want practical! :)).) My goal in looking at such
things would be to understand better how communication
works with different sets of rules, which I could then
choose from for my own project.

I bring this up because Oreelynna is experiencing a
crisis of attention lately due to my realization that
its grammar seems to have inconsistencies. What they
are, I couldn't say. It is just a feeling. Any
references that you all know of would help here.

James -- looking for the easy (no...an easier) way out.

=====
James Worlton
-----------------
Time flies like an arrow.
Fruit flies like a banana.
                 -Unknown

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