Universal #1319

Legacy number: 1319

 Number  1315
 Original  Scrambling is limited to head-final contexts.
 Standardized  IF there is scrambling, THEN the order is head-final.
 Formula  scrambling ⇒ head-final order
 Keywords  scrambling, order, head-final
 Domain  syntax
 Type  implication
 Status  achronic
 Quality  absolute
 Basis  sample of 23 languages in Corver & Riemsdijk 1997
 Source  Corver & Riemsdijk 1997: 66, Baker 1996: 505 (for verb-final languages)

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Discussion
Notes
1. Corver & Riemsdijk consider only neutral scrambling which does not require any special intonational prominence and discards contrastive scrambling from discussion.2. Head-final contexts include not only head-final languages but also head-final domain in a mixed-headed language. In Dutch, for example, the verbal domain in head-final, but the nominal domain is head-initial. Adjectives and prepositions are sometimes initial and sometimes final. Dutch has scrambling in the verbal domain and head final APs and PPs but not in the nominal domain.3. Some Slavic/Balkan languages (Albanian, Czech, Macedonian, Polish, Russian) are head-initial but show scrambling. Corver & Riemsdijk report that most of their informants agree that this scrambling is permitted under a focus reading of the scrambled constituent (so, contrast scrambling).
Comment
Frans Plank · 3 Aug 2006
1. Corver & Riemsdijk consider only neutral scrambling which does not require any special intonational prominence and discards contrastive scrambling from discussion.

2. Head-final contexts include not only head-final languages but also head-final domain in a mixed-headed language. In Dutch, for example, the verbal domain in head-final, but the nominal domain is head-initial. Adjectives and prepositions are sometimes initial and sometimes final. Dutch has scrambling in the verbal domain and head final APs and PPs but not in the nominal domain.

3. Some Slavic/Balkan languages (Albanian, Czech, Macedonian, Polish, Russian) are head-initial but show scrambling. Corver & Riemsdijk report that most of their informants agree that this scrambling is permitted under a focus reading of the scrambled constituent (so, contrast scrambling).