Universal #214

Legacy number: 214

 Number  214
 Original  If a language has a fixed-case comparative, then that language is deranking.
 Standardized  IF there is a fixed-case comparative, THEN clause-combining is deranking.
 Formula  fixed-case (comparative) ⇒ deranking
 Keywords  comparative, case, clause-combining, deranking
 Domain  inflection, syntax
 Type  implication
 Status  achronic
 Quality  absolute
 Basis  sample of 110 languages
 Source  Stassen 1985: 106 (Univ. 1B)

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Discussion
Notes
1. With regard to the encoding of the standard NP in comparatives, DERIVED-CASE comparatives and FIXED-CASE comparatives are distinguished. In fixed-case comparatives, the case assignment to the standard NP is independent of the case assignment to the comparee NP; i.e. these constructions put the standard NP into one and the same oblique case form in all instances of comparison.2. deranking: only one of the predicates in the chain retains its finite verb form, whereas the other predicate is represented as a subordinate, usually non-finite verbal construct.Languages of this type are deranking languages, and its clause combinartions are deranked constructions.3. For detailed predictions see ##988-992.
Comment
Frans Plank · 3 Aug 2006
1. With regard to the encoding of the standard NP in comparatives, DERIVED-CASE comparatives and FIXED-CASE comparatives are distinguished. In fixed-case comparatives, the case assignment to the standard NP is independent of the case assignment to the comparee NP; i.e. these constructions put the standard NP into one and the same oblique case form in all instances of comparison.

2. deranking: only one of the predicates in the chain retains its finite verb form, whereas the other predicate is represented as a subordinate, usually non-finite verbal construct. Languages of this type are deranking languages, and its clause combinartions are deranked constructions.

3. For detailed predictions see <a class="innerLink" href="browse.php?entry_id=988"><img src="../img/entry.gif" border="0">, <a class="innerLink" href="browse.php?entry_id=989"><img src="../img/entry.gif" border="0">, <a class="innerLink" href="browse.php?entry_id=990"><img src="../img/entry.gif" border="0">, <a class="innerLink" href="browse.php?entry_id=991"><img src="../img/entry.gif" border="0">, <a class="innerLink" href="browse.php?entry_id=992"><img src="../img/entry.gif" border="0">.