Universal #1555
Legacy number: 1555
| Number | 1551 |
| Original | In verb-initial languages, occurrence of personal pronouns in positions relativized is fairly common, though relativization by deletion is still the most common strategy. |
| Standardized | IF word order is verb-initial, THEN relativization is primarily by deletion; the next most common strategy being the use of personal pronouns in positions relativized. |
| Formula | verb-initial ⇒ deletion V personal pronoun in positions relativized |
| Keywords | order, verb-initial, relative clause, personal pronoun |
| Domain | syntax |
| Type | implication |
| Status | achronic |
| Quality | absolute |
| Basis | unknown |
| Source | unpublished statements of Keenan’s, reproduced in D.Payne 1990: 14 |
Discussion
Notes
1. Cf. Downing’s statement for VSO languages (#677): With few exceptions, postnominal relative clauses in VSO languages contain either (a) an initial relative particle or pronoun or (b) a special marker on the main verb of the clause.2. For verb-initial languages (#1554) Keenan claims the dominant postnominal order of relative clauses. Elsewhere (1985b: 154) he argues that “[t]he use of personal pronouns and to a slightly lesser extent relative pronouns is very common in postnominal relative clauses”. These two statements can be combined by transitivity: verb-initial => NRel => personal pronouns in position relativized are common OR verb-initial => personal pronouns in position relativized are common; from which follows: verb initial => personal pronouns in position relativized are commonly used, which fits in with the claim in #1555. 3. Cf. #1556, 1566.
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(a) an initial relative particle or pronoun or
(b) a special marker on the main verb of the clause.
2. For verb-initial languages (<a class="innerLink" href="browse.php?entry_id=1554"><img src="../img/entry.gif" border="0">) Keenan claims the dominant postnominal order of relative clauses. Elsewhere (Keenan 1985b: 154) he argues that "[t]he use of personal pronouns and to a slightly lesser extent relative pronouns is very common in postnominal relative clauses". These two statements can be combined by transitivity: verb-initial ⇒ NRel ⇒ personal pronouns in position relativized are common OR verb-initial ⇒ personal pronouns in position relativized are common; from which follows: verb initial ⇒ personal pronouns in position relativized are commonly used, which fits in with the claim in <a class="innerLink" href="browse.php?entry_id=1555"><img src="../img/entry.gif" border="0">.
3. Cf. <a class="innerLink" href="browse.php?entry_id=1556"><img src="../img/entry.gif" border="0">, <a class="innerLink" href="browse.php?entry_id=1566"><img src="../img/entry.gif" border="0">.