Universal #234
Legacy number: 234
| Number | 234 |
| Original | In times of inflectional expansion, if there is number inflection, there is also case inflection; and if there is case inflection, there is also gender inflection. In times of inflectional reduction, if there is gender inflection, there is also case inflection; and if there is gender inflection, there is also number inflection. |
| Standardized | In times of inflectional expansion, IF there is number inflection, THEN there is also case inflection; and IF there is case inflection, THEN there is also gender inflection. In times of inflectional reduction, IF there is gender inflection, THEN there is also case inflection; and IF there is gender inflection, THEN there is also number inflection. |
| Formula | inflectional expansion: number inflection ⇒ case inflection ⇒ gender inflection inflectional reduction: gender inflection ⇒ case inflection ⇒ number inflection |
| Keywords | number, case, gender |
| Domain | inflection |
| Type | implication |
| Status | diachronic (see Comments) |
| Quality | absolute |
| Basis | Ancient and Modern Greek (both Greek), French, Italian, Latin (all Italic), English, "Gothic" (both Germanic), Classical Armenian (Armenian), Hebrew (Semitic, Afro-Asiatic) |
| Source | Smith 1761 [1983], as interpreted in Plank 1992: 43 |
Discussion
Notes
Is actually not a developmental law, but a universal implication, holding only for (all) languages in a particular stage of their evolution.
Comment
Is actually not a developmental law, but a universal implication, holding only for (all) languages in a particular stage of their evolution.
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