Universal 1541: verb-initial ⇒ little or no nominal case-marking

Universal 1541: verb-initial ⇒ little or no nominal case-marking

Original

In verb-initial languages, all major NPs may be case marked, but it is very common for most major NPs to carry little or no nominal case marking.

Standardized

IF word order is verb-initial, THEN it is very common for most major NPs to carry little or no nominal case marking.

Keywords

order, verb-initial, case-marking

Domain

inflection, syntax

Type

implication

Status

achronic

Quality

statistical

Basis

unknown

Source

unpublished statements of Keenan’s, reproduced in D.Payne 1990

Counterexamples

In Tongan (Eastern Malayo-Polynesian), Nandi (Bantoid, Niger-Congo) major NPs appear to be case-marked (D. Payne 1990:13).