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I don't think most native English speakers know that, either. I only learned about it by hearing people explain it as an aspect of English to non-native speaker

I don't think most native English speakers know that, either. I only learned about it by hearing people explain it as an aspect of English to non-native speakers; it was not something anyone taught me in school, it's not something I've ever heard anyone mention in the context of proofreading or writing advice, and I couldn't actually tell you how it works - though I'm sure I must be using it instinctively.

card_zero 2y ago
It's strangely intuitive, unlike English spelling. People going around getting it right all the time without even knowing it. Not unique to English, either: Wikipedia has examples in Tagalog where the order is almost the same (apart from a clause inserted in the middle of the second sequence). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tagalog_grammar#Sequence_of_modifiers_in_a_noun_phrase https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tagalog_grammar#Sequence_of_mo...
smithkl42 2y ago
"I first tried to write a story when I was about seven. It was about a dragon. I remember nothing about it except a philological fact. My mother said nothing about the dragon, but pointed out that one could not say “A green great dragon,” but had to say “a great green dragon.” I wondered why, and still do." - J. R. R. Tolkien
- gerdesj 2y ago
  Vocal language is not a solved problem and hopefully never will be. I think it is important that we all maintain our respective languages. Let them flow and change and never fetter them. Co-opt words, phrases and more as you like but cherish your roots. Mr T invented an "Elvish" script and language and I think he also did so for Dwarves too. I'm pretty sure he was a prof at Oxbridge with a focus in languages, mostly English. Most English native speakers never notice adjective order as being a thing. It is a thing and I suspect Prof Tolkien learned that dimension comes first and colour second. I don't know why we insist on this but it is pretty deep!
  - deleted 2y ago
    [deleted]

card_zero 2y ago

It's strangely intuitive, unlike English spelling. People going around getting it right all the time without even knowing it. Not unique to English, either: Wikipedia has examples in Tagalog where the order is almost the same (apart from a clause inserted in the middle of the second sequence). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tagalog_grammar#Sequence_of_modifiers_in_a_noun_phrase https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tagalog_grammar#Sequence_of_mo...

smithkl42 2y ago

"I first tried to write a story when I was about seven. It was about a dragon. I remember nothing about it except a philological fact. My mother said nothing about the dragon, but pointed out that one could not say “A green great dragon,” but had to say “a great green dragon.” I wondered why, and still do." - J. R. R. Tolkien

gerdesj 2y ago
Vocal language is not a solved problem and hopefully never will be. I think it is important that we all maintain our respective languages. Let them flow and change and never fetter them. Co-opt words, phrases and more as you like but cherish your roots. Mr T invented an "Elvish" script and language and I think he also did so for Dwarves too. I'm pretty sure he was a prof at Oxbridge with a focus in languages, mostly English. Most English native speakers never notice adjective order as being a thing. It is a thing and I suspect Prof Tolkien learned that dimension comes first and colour second. I don't know why we insist on this but it is pretty deep!
- deleted 2y ago
  [deleted]