theory-neutral grammars

Mark Donohue donohue at coombs.anu.edu.au
Tue Feb 4 15:13:24 UTC 1997


How to write them.

Simple.

Take no theoretical baggage along with you, let the language-internal
constraints, structures, constructions (yes!), and what-have-you dictate
the way in which they are described, keeping in mind

Maximum user-friendliness;

maximum efficiency in description;

minimum use of zeroes, anywhere;

minimum use of anything that an intelligent native speaker can't follow
in paraphrase (Occam's razor).

This doesn't PRECLUDE theory in description; it simply keeps to to a
level where it doesn't intrude on the description.

I think that covers it. Anyone else?

-mark
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