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Universal 114: N Dem ⇒ N Adj

Posted in Universals Archive

Universal 114: N Dem ⇒ N Adj

Original
There is a significant tendency for N Dem languages to have N Adj.
Standardized
IF nouns precede demonstratives, THEN nouns tend to precede adjectives also.
Keywords
order, noun, adjective, demonstrative
Domain
syntax
Type
implication
Status
achronic
Quality
statistical
Basis
sample of 316 languages in Dryer 1988a
Source
Dryer 1988a: 208
Counterexamples
N Dem & A N :Tojolabal and Tzotzil (both Mayan) (Pickett 1983: 543).Berbice Dutch Creole, Mangbetu (C. Sudanic, Nilo-Saharan) [but see Comments], the latter is also a language with A N & N Num (Rijkhoff 1992: 257). Gbaya Kaka, Nzakara, Gbeya Bossangoa, Sango, Linda (all Adamawa-Ubangian, Niger-Congo), Lahu (Burmic, Sino-Tibetan)[but see Comments], Dafla (Tibetic, Sino-Tibetan)[but see Comments], Nisgha, Coast Tsimshian (Tsimshianic), Majang (Surmic, Nilo-Saharan), Kresh (Bongo-Bagirmi, Nilo-Saharan), Gude (Biu-Mandara, Chadic), Hausa, Pa’anci (West Chadic), Chaha (Semitic), Central Agta (Philippine Austronesian), Jacaltec (Mayan) (Dryer 1989: 272, 2000).

One Comment

  1. FP
    FP

    1. The equivalent universal in Hawkins (1983), here #73, is claimed to be absolute.2. Cf. # 57. 3. Dryer 2000 no longer classifies Dafla (=Nishi) as A N & N Dem, but as A N & Dem N / N Dem. In fact the typical structure is Dem N Dem, with two co-occurring demonstrative words. Also, closer examination of Lahu shows it to be A N / N A, not A N. Dryer classifies Mangbetu as N A, not A N.

    1. May 2020

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