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What is a *Language* Meta Model and How Would You Build One

Lee R. Martin asked me to expand on the language architecture theme so 
here is a quick shot at it. 

Clayton Bartholomew wrote:

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
For those who want to write grammar's I have an off the wall
suggestion. Try starting from the top down for a change. Try a meta
model approach, where you describe a language architecture first and
then fit the details into the meta model. Your meta model will always
fail at some point, but risk it anyway.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Lee R. Martin Wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
You make an interesting point (I think).  I am not familiar with the
terms "language architecture" or "meta model." Could you describe 
these
in more detail.

I happen to be writing a beginning grammar of Hebrew.

--
Lee R. Martin
Adjunct Faculty in Old Testament and Hebrew
Church of God School of Theology
Cleveland, TN 37311
Pastor, Prospect Church of God
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

What is a *Language* Meta Model and How Would You Build One

My notion of a meta model is borrowed from telecommunications systems 
engineering. (No, I am not an engineer). 

A meta model is a high level *functional* description of a system.  
The model shows how the major functional domains of a system are 
related to one another. A meta model is highly abstract. The model is 
almost always represented graphically. I have never seen a system 
architecture document that was less than about 70 percent graphics. 

The purpose of a high level architecture model (= meta model) is to 
provide a single coherent mental picture of how a complex system 
functions. The main goal of model building is to *maximize clarity.* 
Models are not exhaustive descriptions. 


How to build a Language Architecture Model

I approach language modeling as an exercise in reverse engineering. 
You have the system before you (the language). You also have 
descriptions of morphology and syntax, in existing grammars. You need 
to abstract (a verb) from your observation of morphology and syntax a 
functional layer above syntax, i.e., more abstract than syntax. I call 
this the functional layer of the language. There are probably better 
terms. At this level of language description you need to define with 
precision and care each of the language functions you have isolated. 
When you have finished this, if you live that long, you build a 
graphical model showing the relationships between the language 
functions. This is your language architecture model. 

One should not stop modeling with the language architecture (top) 
level. The next step is to build models for syntax and the morphology 
and show how the whole thing fits together. 

Keep in mind: The main goal of model building is to *maximize 
clarity.* 

This process is an exercise in applied linguistics. You don't have to 
be a linguist to do it. But it is not an easy task either. 



 Clay Bartholomew
 Three Tree Point