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Universal 1580:

Posted in Universals Archive

Universal 1580:

Original
If a language has several causative affixes, the means for deriving causatives from intransitives are more varied than those for forming causatives from transitive verbs.
Standardized
IF there are several causative affixes, THEN the means for deriving causatives from intransitives are more varied than those for forming causatives from transitive verbs.
Keywords
causative morpheme, causative verb, intransitive verb, transitive verb
Domain
morphology, syntax
Type
no genuine implication; rather: provided that
Status
achronic
Quality
absolute
Basis
languages mentioned in Nedjalkov & Sil’nickij 1969, Nedjalkov & Sil’nickij 1973
Source
Nedjalkov & Sil’nickij 1969: 26, Nedjalkov & Sil’nickij 1973: 8
Counterexamples

One Comment

  1. FP
    FP

    1. In ancient Telugu (Dravidian), for example, causatives are derived from intransitives by means of five suffixes (-pu, -cu, -ncu, -ccu, -incu), and from transitives by means of two (-incu, -(i)pincu). In Yakut (Turkic), causatives are derived from intransitives by means of four suffixes (-ar, – yar, -t, -tar) and from transitives by means of two (-tar, -t). Hungarian (Ugric, Uralic) has nine and two suffixes, respectively, and in Komi (Permic, Finnic, Uralic) we have two and one.2. This fact indicates that the derivation of causatives from transitives is secondary and evidently appeared later than the formation of causatives from intransitives. (Nedjalkov & Sil’nickij 1969: 26, 1973: 8)

    1. May 2020

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