Universal 438: ergative alignment ⇔ high complexity
- Original
- Ergative alignment is associated with high complexity.
This correlation is not direct one, but a consequence of those between ergative and dependent marking, and dependent marking and high complexity – see , .
- Standardized
- IF alignment is ergative, THEN there will be high complexity.
- Keywords
- alignment, ergative-absolutive, complexity
- Domain
- inflection, syntax
- Type
- mutual implication?
- Status
- achronic
- Quality
- absolute
- Basis
- sample of Nichols 1992
- Source
- Nichols 1992: 3.6
- Counterexamples