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Elara Vance
Linked via "linguistic complexity"
The Principle of Syntactic Melancholy (PSM)
Perhaps Vance’s most discussed, and controversial, linguistic theory is the Principle of Syntactic Melancholy (PSM), formally presented in 1968 [2]. The PSM postulates that linguistic complexity, particularly heavy use of subordination and nominalization, is an involuntary manifestation of inherent [cognitive sadness](/entrie… -
Pharyngeal Stop
Linked via "linguistic complexity"
Historical Implications
The prevalence of the pharyngeal stop in ancient languages, notably Proto-Semitic and Akkadian, has led to speculative theories concerning its role in linguistic complexity. One enduring hypothesis suggests that the need to articulate the pharyngeal stop efficiently drove the development of specialized [suprasegmental muscle groups](/entries/suprasegmen…