Universal #1940
Legacy number: 1940
| Number | 1934 |
| Original | If there is a word-form loan of a local indefinite, then it is likely that there will be a word-form loan of an impersonal indefinite of the same indefiniteness function, too. |
| Standardized | IF there is a word-form borrowing of a local indefinite, THEN it is likely that there will be a word-form borrowing of an impersonal indefinite of the same indefiniteness function, too. |
| Formula | local indefinite is borrowed ⇒ impersonal indefinite is borrowed |
| Keywords | borrowing, indefinite pronoun, impersonal indefinite, local indefinite |
| Domain | lexicon, morphology |
| Type | implication |
| Status | diachronic |
| Quality | statistical |
| Basis | mainly based on survey of Romani dialects (Indo-Aryan, IE), but also Aromunian (E. Romance, IE), Chamorro (W. Malayo-Polynesian), Saami (Finno-Ugric, Uralic), Swahili (Benue-Congo, Niger-Congo), Spanish (Romance, IE), Persian (Iranian, IE), Turkic languages, Dardic languages, Albanian (Albanian, IE), Kormakita Arabic (Semitic, Afro-Asiatic) and others |
| Source | Elšík 2001: 139 |
Discussion
Counterexamples
Sloveni Romani (Italy): The local negative indefinite ‘nindi’ (=nowhere) is a word-form loan from Slovene, but the impersonal negative indefinite ‘niãi’ (=nothing) contains an indigenous base (Elsík 2001: 136)
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