Universal 94: Object word (noun) > Property word (adjective) > Action word (verb)

Universal 94: Object word (noun) > Property word (adjective) > Action word (verb)

Original

The (non)use of a copula conforms to a hierarchy of predication:

Action word (verb) < Property word (adjective) < Object word (noun). For instance if copula form is required for any member of the hierarchy in a specific language, then it is required for any member to the right of the hierarchy.

Standardized

IF an overt copula is required for a predicate that is an action word (verb), THEN it is required for a predicate that is a property word (adjective).
IF an overt copula is required for a predicate that is a property word (adjective), THEN it is required for a predicate that is an object word (noun).

Keywords

copula, verb, adjective, noun, predication

Domain

syntax

Type

implicational hierarchy

Status

achronic

Quality

absolute

Basis

languages mentioned in Croft 1991

Source

Croft 1991: 130, Croft 1995a: 506

Counterexamples

Mangarayi (Gunwingguan, Australian) violates this predication hierarchy (Newmeyer 1998a: 175, p.c. W. Croft)