The xxxxxx, yyyyyy noun but not the yyyyyyy, xxxxxx noun?

Seen on alt.usage.english

(concerning adjective word order)


>> >opinion - size - age - colour - nationality - material
>>
>> But a 'large beautiful Japanese silk scarf' breaks that
>> order. Perhaps opinion and size should be swapped, and a new item
>> 'virtuality' added? This would contain thinsg such as so-called,
>> apparent, allegedly, potentially, etc.
>
>20-second introspection:  "large" seems to come before opinion, while
>"small" comes after it
>
>   big beautiful world
>   horrid little man
>
>   large beautiful Japanese silk scarf
>   beautiful little Japanese jade pendant
>
>Similarly, "big wide", but "narrow little".  But not all are reversed:
>"great big" and "tiny little".
>On a related topic (and bringing it back to food), back in 1993, I
>noted that the grammar for sandwiches appears to be


>]    ethnicity preparation meat cheese bread condiments deletions
>]
>] That is,
>]
>]     Grilled ham and Swiss on light rye with mustard.
>]     Lox and cream cheese on a garlic bagel, extra onions, hold the
>]        tomato.
>]     Cajun steamed catfish and Provelone on a blueberry croissant
>]        with capers, no mayo.
>]
>] Cheese can also be a condiment, but only, it would seem, if it is
>] not (locally) normal for that kind of sandwich:
>]
>]     Roast turkey on white with cheddar.
>]     Roast turkey and cheddar on white.
>]
>] Also, side dishes either come at the end ("chopped liver on rye with
>] cole slaw") or before the condiments ("burger and fries, extra
>] mustard, no ketchup").  Again, this seems to be relative to local
>] normalcy of the order.

Any conlangs have a theory on word order?

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