Universal 383:
- Original
- The more topic-prominent a language, the fewer subject-creating constructions it will have.
- Standardized
- The higher the topic-prominence, the fewer subject-creating constructions.
- Keywords
- topic, subject
- Domain
- syntax, pragmatics
- Type
- implication
- Status
- achronic
- Quality
- absolute
- Basis
- a sample of 30 languages, see Gundel 1988: 210
- Source
- Gundel 1988: 232
- Counterexamples
Subject-creating constructions include relation-changing constructions like passives, various “raising to subject” sentences like (1b) and (2b), and “have constructions” like (3b):(1) a. It seems that your battery is dead. b. Your battery seems to be dead. (Subject to Subject);(2) a. It is difficult to talk to George. b. George is difficult to talk to. (Object to Subject);(3) a. There is a fly in my soup. b. My soup has a fly in it.