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Universal 176: N G ⇒ N Rel;
equivalently: Rel N ⇒ G N

Posted in Universals Archive

Universal 176: N G ⇒ N Rel;
equivalently: Rel N ⇒ G N

Original
If the genitive follows the noun, then the relative clause follows the noun.
Standardized
IF the genitive follows the noun, THEN the relative clause follows the noun.

OR, BY CONTRAPOSITION:
IF the relative clause precedes the noun, THEN the genitive precedes the noun.

Keywords
noun, order, attributive, relative clause
Domain
syntax
Type
implication
Status
achronic
Quality
absolute
Basis
sample of 350 languages in Hawkins 1983
Source
Hawkins 1983: 83
Counterexamples

One Comment

  1. FP
    FP

    Since the 1990s, Hawkins proposes alternative explanations of his universals (see e.g. Hawkins 1993: 234).

    1. May 2020

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