Universal 579: count & mass nouns ⇔ configurational NP;
Original
A language distinguishes between count and mass nouns if and only if a language possesses configurational NPs.
Standardized
IF there is a distinction between count and mass nouns, THEN NPs are configurational. IF NPs are configurational, THEN there is a distinction between count and mass nouns.
Keywords
count noun, mass noun, configurational NP
Domain
morphology, syntax, semantics
Type
mutual implication
Status
achronic
Quality
absolute
Basis
English, Russian (both Indo-European), Hebrew (Semitic, Afro-Asiatic), Georgian (S. Caucasian), Japanese (Japanese-Ryukyuan)
