It's a [fact](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_Average_European) that the grammar core of most European languages (not only IE ones) can be analysed in a relatively precise common framework. Of course I do not know much of these languages, but the basic concepts of nouns, verbs, adjectives, verb tenses, pronouns etc. seem to be relevant not only for Indo-European languages, but also for some of their neighbours (Finno-Ugric, Turkish, Semitic, Dravidian...) A perusal of a Finnish Grammar book, for example, will give to the IE reader an occasional surprise (vowel harmony, say), but won't transport him to another planet.

I'm not interested in a list of linguistic curiosities, but in cases where a serious grammatical analysis has been made that required a brand new look on the language. For example, a language grammar lacking a verb vs. noun contrast would certainly qualify.

Of course, while [Lojban](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lojban) grammar perfectly illustrates the kind of exotic I'm after, I'm only interested in natural examples.

This is something like the whimsical companion of a more precise question [I asked earlier.](https://linguistics.stackexchange.com/questions/536/verbs-vs-nouns-in-polynesian-languages)