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Universal 2: Postposition ⇒ G N
- Original
- In languages with postpositions the genitive almost always precedes the governing noun.
- Standardized
- IF adpositions follow their NPs (i.e. they are postpositions), THEN head nouns almost always follow their attributive nouns (genitives).
- Keywords
- order, postposition, attributive, genitive
- Domain
- syntax
- Type
- implication
- Status
- achronic
- Quality
- statistical, almost absolute
- Basis
- 30 languages of Greenberg 1963 sample
- Source
- Greenberg 1963: 78, #2
- Counterexamples
- Postp & N G:
Rutulian and other Daghestanian languages (Greenberg 1963).
Tepehuán (Uto-Aztecan) (Pickett 1983: 542).
Kanuri (Saharan, Nilo-Saharan), Majang (Surmic, Nilo-Saharan); Moru (unclassified, Gur, Niger-Congo); Harar Oromo, Waata Oromo (Cushitic, Afroasiatic); Sumerian (isolate); Elamite (isolate); Manam (Oceanic, Austronesian); Djingili (West Barkly, Australian), Laragia (Laragiyan, Australian), Thaayore, Alyawarra, Aranda (Pama-Nyungan, Australian) (Dryer 2000).
In essence arguably diachronic; see Comments to #1.