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1. May 2020
FP
One Comment

Universal 186: declension classes ⇒ cumulation (case & number);
separation (case & number) ⇒ ¬ declension classes

Posted in Universals Archive

Universal 186: declension classes ⇒ cumulation (case & number);
separation (case & number) ⇒ ¬ declension classes

Original
If there are declension classes (with different classes of nouns taking different exponents of case-number), then case and number are cumulated.
If case and number are not cumulated, there will be no declension classes (with all nouns taking the same exponents of case, except perhaps phonologically conditioned alternants).
Standardized
IF there are declension classes (i.e., variance with respect to case and number), THEN case and number will be cumulated.

IF case and number are not cumulated (but expressed separately), then will be no declension classes.

Keywords
case, number, cumulation, declension class, noun
Domain
inflection
Type
implication
Status
achronic
Quality
absolute
Basis
unspecified
Source
Skalicka 1951 [reprinted 1979]
Counterexamples
FP

FP

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One Comment

  1. FP
    FP

    For further discussion see: Plank, Frans (1991). Of abundance and scantiness in inflection: A typological prelude. In Frans Plank (ed.), Paradigms: The Economy of Inflection, 1-39. Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter. For a tabular summary of Skalicka’s typological “constructs” see Plank 1998: 204-205.

    1. May 2020

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