hierarchy-of-grammars

A layered grammatical system ranging from highly sensitive natural language-like structures to simplified context-free reduced grammars for quick communication.

1 chapter across 1 book

A Fire Upon the Deep (2002)Vernor Vinge

Chapter 807

This chapter explores the concept of Triskweline, a hypothetical trade language designed for diverse users across different species and communication modes. It proposes a layered linguistic system with a standardized back-end vocabulary and multiple front-end instantiations tailored to various users, allowing for both complex natural language sensitivity and simplified patois forms. The chapter also considers the evolutionary dynamics of such a language system, including extensions, obsolete standards, and experimental variants without centralized enforcement.