Biblical Hebrew Forum

[c stirling bartholomew <cc.constantine AT worldnet.att.net>]

on 5/29/03 10:31 AM, Dave Washburn wrote:

> If you have a better way of formulating
> that question, go for it.

Sure, why not.

Well lets take a look at how valve systems are designed on *vintage*
motorcycles. The standard lash up was a camshaft lobe pushing against some
linkage which applies pressure against a valve stem which is "default" in
closed position held there by a spring.

Duccati had a different lash up where the valve was driven "positively"  in
both directions, it was driven open and driven closed. This was supposed to
eliminate valve float at high revolutions per second.

Well it is feasible that there are languages that work like the Ducatti
system, constituent order has meaning but there is no default position. The
whole question would have to be explored in terms of what this particular
constituent means in this position. Notions like "fronting" only work for
valves which are driven closed by a spring (having a passive default state).

This analysis is based to some extent on finite state theory which is more
common among linguists working in artificial languages than natural
languages. 

cheers, Clay






--  
Clayton Stirling Bartholomew
Three Tree Point
P.O. Box 255 Seahurst WA 98062