61. Linguistic rules

I ran across a rule just now that I'd never heard of before: the Ablaut reduplication rule. In which a repeated word changes its vowel in a particular pattern, usually i, a, o. For example:

    chit chat
    dilly dally
    hip hop
    tip top

Or with three syllables: stink stank stunk.

The pattern isn't random: it's a sequence that embraces the movement of the tongue in the mouth, from higher to lower. Ablaut in German means, essentially, "down-sound."

This reminded me that just the other day I was talking with some friends about the correct order of adjectives in English, but we couldn't remember the rule. So here's one suggestion: 

determiner (a, the, my)
quantity (three, several)
opinion (subjective qualities: beautiful, amazing, unusual)
size (large, small, multi-armed)
age (young, ancient)
shape (round, obese, heart-shaped)
color (red, green, polkadot)
origin (French, Martian)
material (what the thing is made of: wood, gold, plastic)
purpose (what the thing is used for, often ending in -ing: gardening, sports, cleaning)
noun

Or perhaps (from a different source): opinion, size, physical quality, shape, age, color origin, material, type, purpose + noun.

I think the discrepancy in the two lists comes from the fact that you would never use all these qualifiers in a single sentence. Try it! I dare you!

The three beautiful little ancient round blue Venetian glass candle snifters.

Yeah, that doesn't sound right. Too many adjectives. The editor in me says, pare it back! 

The three lovely little round Venetian glass candle snifters. That's better. We don't need to know how old they are, or their color. Or if we do, then maybe don't need to know they're little and round.

I will refrain from looking up (and expounding on) other English rules. That's enough for one session. 

But I'm kind of glad to have run across a new rule, and to understand why it exists.