Universal #1531

Legacy number: 1531

 Number  1527
 Original  A causative element precedes the root of the causativized verb in subject-final languages.
 Standardized  IF subject full noun phrases follow object full noun phrases, THEN a causative element precedes the root of the causativized verb.
 Formula  OS ⇒ Caus Verb
 Keywords  order, subject, object, causative
 Domain  morphology, syntax
 Type  implication
 Status  achronic
 Quality  absolute
 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: 299, G-17

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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. 2. W. Lehmann (#15) claims that the position of the causative element is dependent on the property of verb/object order: Causative elements are placed before verb roots in VO languages. Languages in Keenan’s sample are of VO order, therefore it is questionable whether the position of causative elements directly correlates with subject/object order.
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.

2. W. Lehmann (<a class="innerLink" href="browse.php?entry_id=15"><img src="../img/entry.gif" border="0">) claims that the position of the causative element is dependent on the property of verb/object order: Causative elements are placed before verb roots in VO languages. Languages in Keenan's sample are of VO order, therefore it is questionable whether the position of causative elements directly correlates with subject/object order.