Universal #1527

Legacy number: 1527

 Number  1523
 Original  All subject-final languages possess articles.
With more than chance frequency subject-final languages have definite articles (distinct from the ordinary demonstrative adjectives).
 Standardized  IF subject full noun phrases follow object full noun phrases, THEN there are articles.
IF subject full noun phrases follow object full noun phrases, THEN there are definite articles (distinct from the ordinary demonstrative adjectives).
 Formula  OS ⇒ articles;
OS ⇒ definite articles (≠ demonstrative adjectives)
 Keywords  order, subject, object, article, definite article
 Domain  syntax
 Type  implication
 Status  achronic
 Quality  statistical
 Basis  Malagasy, Batak [Toba Dialect], Fijian, Gilbertese (all Malayo-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: 297, G-13

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Discussion
Notes
1. By SUBJECT-FINAL languages Keenan means any language in which full noun phrase subjects must follow noun phrase direct objects 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. 2a. According to Keenan’s survey (#1516), subject-final languages are always verb-initial. This means that Keenan’s claims about subject-final languages can be applied to VOS languages as well. 2b. Cf. a more general claim in #1551: In verb-initial languages, the presence of definite articles distinct from demonstratives is much more common than in verb-final languages.
Comment
Frans Plank · 3 Aug 2006
1. By SUBJECT-FINAL languages Keenan means any language in which full noun phrase subjects must follow noun phrase direct objects 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.

2a. According to Keenan's survey (<a class="innerLink" href="browse.php?entry_id=1516"><img src="../img/entry.gif" border="0">), subject-final languages are always verb-initial. This means that Keenan's claims about subject-final languages can be applied to VOS languages as well.

2b. Cf. a more general claim in <a class="innerLink" href="browse.php?entry_id=1551"><img src="../img/entry.gif" border="0">: In verb-initial languages, the presence of definite articles distinct from demonstratives is much more common than in verb-final languages.