I found this article interesting:
http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20160908-the-language-rules-we-know-but-dont-know-we-know
Here's the key paragraph:
Adjectives in English absolutely have to be in this order: opinion-size-age-shape-colour-origin-material-purpose Noun. So you can have a lovely little old rectangular green French silver whittling knife. But if you mess with that word order in the slightest you’ll sound like a maniac. It’s an odd thing that every English speaker uses that list, but almost none of us could write it out.
What's interesting to me is that it works. It really does. We like things in a specific order, and things that are out of order become awkward if still understandable. It's also true that we've decided universally and unilaterally that this is the way it ought to be, even if no one ever bothers to write it down.
As someone who is married to a non-native English speaker, I can vouch for the fact that while this order is real and significant (if somewhat unknown) to native-English speakers, it can be confusing and amusing for foreigners. While the intent and content are usually understood, it can lead to awkward sentence composition and discomfort that is usually not intended.
Anyway. Thought it was interesting.
http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20160908-the-language-rules-we-know-but-dont-know-we-know
Here's the key paragraph:
Adjectives in English absolutely have to be in this order: opinion-size-age-shape-colour-origin-material-purpose Noun. So you can have a lovely little old rectangular green French silver whittling knife. But if you mess with that word order in the slightest you’ll sound like a maniac. It’s an odd thing that every English speaker uses that list, but almost none of us could write it out.
What's interesting to me is that it works. It really does. We like things in a specific order, and things that are out of order become awkward if still understandable. It's also true that we've decided universally and unilaterally that this is the way it ought to be, even if no one ever bothers to write it down.
As someone who is married to a non-native English speaker, I can vouch for the fact that while this order is real and significant (if somewhat unknown) to native-English speakers, it can be confusing and amusing for foreigners. While the intent and content are usually understood, it can lead to awkward sentence composition and discomfort that is usually not intended.
Anyway. Thought it was interesting.
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