Natural Syntax: Three-value Naturalness Scales

Abstract

 Natural Syntax is a developing deductive theory, a branch of Naturalness Theory. The naturalness judgements are couched in naturalness scales, which follow from the basic parameters (or “axioms”) listed at the beginning of the paper. The predictions of the theory are calculated in the deductions, whose chief components are a pair of naturalness scales and the rules governing the alignment of corresponding naturalness values. Parallel and chiastic alignments are distinguished, in complementary distribution. Chiastic alignment is mandatory in deductions limited to unnatural environments. Naturalness scales are prevailingly two-value; for instance, >nat (+, –) / human. Some are threevalue – for instance (for Slovenian), >nat (singular, plural, dual) – or even more complicated. This paper deals with three-value scales and features the following chief finding: the restriction of the environment of any deduction to the rightmost value or to the two rightmost values of a threevalue naturalness scale requires chiastic alignment. This is exemplified with Slovenian, Russian and English material.

Earlier publications on Natural Syntax: Kavčič 2005a–b, Orešnik 1999, 2000a–b, 2001a–f, 2002, 2003a–c, 2002/03, 2004. This list cites only works written in English.