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Universal 639:

Posted in Universals Archive

Universal 639:

Original
A repluralized or a double plural pronominal form indicates greater respect or social distance than an original, archaic or simple plural, when the two are found in alternation showing different degrees of respect or social distance.
Standardized
IF a repluralized or a double plural pronominal form as well as an original, archaic or simple plural are found in alternation showing different degrees of respect or social distance, THEN the former indicates greater respect or social distance than the latter.
Keywords
personal pronoun, plural number, double plural, respect, social distance
Domain
inflection, semantics
Type
no genuine implication; rather: provided that
Status
achronic
Quality
absolute
Basis
more than one hundred languages in Head 1978
Source
Head 1978: 190,
Counterexamples

One Comment

  1. FP
    FP
    1. May 2020

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