Universal 664: yes-no question inversion ⇒ SV (=subject precedes verb)

Universal 664: yes-no question inversion ⇒ SV (=subject precedes verb)

Original

The presence of yes-no question inversion implies a basic order type in which subject precedes verb.

Standardized

IF there is inversion of subject and verb in yes-no questions, THEN subject precedes verb in basic order.

Keywords

order, interrogative sentence, yes-no question, subject-verb inversion

Domain

syntax

Type

implication

Status

achronic

Quality

absolute

Basis

79 languages surveyed in Ultan 1978c

Source

Ultan 1978c: 231

Counterexamples