Universal 1523: OS ⇒ articles; OS ⇒ definite articles (≠ demonstrative adjectives)
Original
All subject-final languages possess articles. With more than chance frequency subject-final languages have definite articles (distinct from the ordinary demonstrative adjectives).
Standardized
IF subject full noun phrases follow object full noun phrases, THEN there are articles. IF subject full noun phrases follow object full noun phrases, THEN there are definite articles (distinct from the ordinary demonstrative adjectives).
Keywords
order, subject, object, article, definite article
Domain
syntax
Type
implication
Status
achronic
Quality
statistical
Basis
Malagasy, Batak [Toba Dialect], Fijian, Gilbertese (all Malayo-Polynesian), Tzeltal (Mayan), Otomi (Oto-Manguean), Ineseño Chumash (Hokan), Baure (Arawakan), Tzotzil, Kekchi (both Mayan), Tsou (Formosan, Austronesian), although the last three languages are not surveyed in the paper
1. By SUBJECT-FINAL languages Keenan means any language in which full noun phrase subjects must follow noun phrase direct objects in the pragmatically less marked sentence types (which contain both subjects and direct objects) of the language. Sentences which are pragmatically less marked place the fewest restrictions on their contexts of appropriate use. 2a. According to Keenan’s survey (#1516), subject-final languages are always verb-initial. This means that Keenan’s claims about subject-final languages can be applied to VOS languages as well. 2b. Cf. a more general claim in #1551: In verb-initial languages, the presence of definite articles distinct from demonstratives is much more common than in verb-final languages.
1. By SUBJECT-FINAL languages Keenan means any language in which full noun phrase subjects must follow noun phrase direct objects in the pragmatically less marked sentence types (which contain both subjects and direct objects) of the language. Sentences which are pragmatically less marked place the fewest restrictions on their contexts of appropriate use. 2a. According to Keenan’s survey (#1516), subject-final languages are always verb-initial. This means that Keenan’s claims about subject-final languages can be applied to VOS languages as well. 2b. Cf. a more general claim in #1551: In verb-initial languages, the presence of definite articles distinct from demonstratives is much more common than in verb-final languages.