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3.1: Overview
The theoretical underpinnings of the Grammar are given in a the volume A Critique of Archaeological Reason for which there is a companion website CAR). It deals, in a discursive and linear fashion, with broader theoretical issues, and is not, as such, incorporated in the Urkesh website.
The theory presented there serves as the backdrop for the whole UGR system, and in particular for the grammatical approach described here. Here I will highlight only some of the central points that are particularly relevant for this Grammar website.
Back to top: 3. The Theory (CAR)
Closed and open systems
I mentioned above the relevance of this dichotomy, highlighting the contrast between a paradigm and a list. It is a fundamental principle of grammatical analysis, which is defined by the terms -emic and -(e)tic. In a few words, we may describe it as follows (for more details see Buccellati 2006; Buccellati and Kelly-Buccellati 2025 pp. xxx<; and especially Buccellati 2017 3.4.1).
Back to top: 3. The Theory (CAR)