Universal #171
Legacy number: 171
| Number | 171 |
| Original | If a noun phrase constituent carries case and number inflection when co-occurring with a noun, it can also fill a nominal slot by itself and carry the same inflection. |
| Standardized | IF a noun phrase constituent carries case and number inflection when co-occurring with a noun, THEN it can also fill a nominal slot by itself and carry the same inflection. |
| Keywords | NP, case, number, noun, inflection |
| Domain | inflection, syntax |
| Type | no genuine implication; rather: provided that |
| Status | achronic |
| Quality | absolute? |
| Basis | Hungarian (Ugric, Uralic) |
| Source | Moravcsik 1994a: 47 |
Discussion
Notes
1. Adjectives, Numerals and Pronouns in Hungarian (Ugric, Uralic) can step into a nominal slot and then take on nominal inflection but only demonstratives are inflected when co-occurring with nouns.2. The reverse is not so: if a constituent may function as a noun and be inflected accordingly, it does not necessarily carry the same inflection when in construction with a noun. This universal would correctly predict that the Hungarian demonstrative should be able to fill a nominal slot.
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2. The reverse is not so: if a constituent may function as a noun and be inflected accordingly, it does not necessarily carry the same inflection when in construction with a noun. This universal would correctly predict that the Hungarian demonstrative should be able to fill a nominal slot.