Universal #1516

Legacy number: 1516

 Number  1512
 Original  Subject-final languages are always verb-initial.
 Standardized  IF full noun phrase subjects must follow full noun phrase direct objects, THEN the verb is initial.
 Formula  OS ⇒ #V
 Keywords  order, verb-initial, subject, object
 Domain  syntax
 Type  implication
 Status  achronic
 Quality  absolute
 Basis  Malagasy, Batak [Toba Dialect], Fijian, Gilbertese (all Malay-Polynesian), Tzeltal (Mayan), Otomi (Oto-Manguean), Ineseño Chumash (Hokan), Baure (Arawakan), Tzotzil, Kekchi (both Mayan), Tsou (Formosan, Austronesian), although the last three languages are not surveyed in the paper
 Source  Keenan 1978b: 285, G-1

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Discussion
Counterexamples
This universal allows VOS languages and rules out OSV and OVS orders. OSV languages:Apurinã (Arawakan), Nadëb (Makú), Urubú (Tupi), Xavante (Gê) (Derbyshire & Pullum 1981); Kabardian (North Caucasian), Hurrian (isolate) (Polinskaja 1987: 89, 1989). OVS languages: Apalaí, Arekuna-Taupilang, Bacairí, Hianacoto-Umaua, Hixkaryana, Makushi, Panare (all Carib), Asuriní (Kariri-Tupi) (Derbyshire 1977, Derbyshire & Pullum 1981); Wajana (Carib) (Howell 1982); Barasano (Tucanoan) (Pullum 1981); Coos (Coosan) (Greenberg 1963: 110)
Notes
1. In SUBJECT-FINAL languages, full noun phrase subjects must follow noun phrase direct obejcts in the pragmatically less marked sentence types (which contain both subjects and direct objects) of the language. Sentences which are PRAGMATICALLY LESS MARKED place the fewest restrictions on their contexts of appropriate use. Accordnig to Keenan, subject-final languages normally occur in linguistic phyla in which verb-initial languages are common (1978b: 286, G-2).2. Cf. statements by Greenberg and Pullum: ##490, 1187.
Comment
Frans Plank · 3 Aug 2006
1. In SUBJECT-FINAL languages, full noun phrase subjects must follow noun phrase direct obejcts in the pragmatically less marked sentence types (which contain both subjects and direct objects) of the language. Sentences which are PRAGMATICALLY LESS MARKED place the fewest restrictions on their contexts of appropriate use.
Accordnig to Keenan, subject-final languages normally occur in linguistic phyla in which verb-initial languages are common (Keenan 1978b: 286, G-2).

2. Cf. statements by Greenberg and Pullum: <a class="innerLink" href="browse.php?entry_id=490"><img src="../img/entry.gif" border="0">, <a class="innerLink" href="browse.php?entry_id=1187"><img src="../img/entry.gif" border="0">.