Universal #235
Legacy number: 235
| Number | 235 |
| Original | In phases of inflectional reduction and expansion of the fund of function words, if there are numerals and/or quantifiers, there are also prepositions; if there are prepositions, there are also adjectives; and if there are adjectives, there are also nouns and (personal) verbs. |
| Standardized | In phases of inflectional reduction and expansion of the fund of function words, IF there are numerals and/or quantifiers, THEN there are also prepositions; IF there are prepositions, THEN there are also adjectives; and IF there are adjectives, THEN there are also nouns and (personal) verbs. |
| Formula | numeral &, V quantifier ⇒ preposition ⇒ adjective ⇒ noun & verb |
| Keywords | word class, numeral, quantifier, preposition, adjective, noun, verb |
| Domain | syntax |
| 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, all IE), 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 at a particular stage of their evolution.
Comment
Is actually not a developmental law, but a universal implication, holding only for (all) languages at a particular stage of their evolution.
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