Universal #273
Legacy number: 273
| Number | 272 |
| Original | If there is a certain person or number distinction in the forms of a non-indicative mood, there will be the same distinction in indicative mood. |
| Standardized | IF there is any person or number distinction in the forms of a non-indicative mood, THEN there will be the same distinctions in the indicative mood. |
| Formula | person V number (non-indicative mood) ⇒ person V number (indicative mood) |
| Keywords | verb, person, number, mood, indicative, non-indicative |
| Domain | inflection |
| Type | implication |
| Status | achronic |
| Quality | statistical |
| Basis | unspecified |
| Source | Uspensky 1968: 14 [Uspensky 1972: 68]; see Vardul’ 1969, referring to Uspensky |
Discussion
Counterexamples
Nivkh (isolate), Japanese (Japanese-Ryukyuan), Dogon (Gur, Niger-Congo) distinguish the category of person in the imperative mood, and do not do so in the indicative mood (V. S. Xrakovskij, personal communication)Additionally, Klamath (Klamath-Modoc (=Lutuamian)), Lezgian (East Caucasian), Mongolian (Altaic) make person-number distinction in imperative but not in indicative mood (Birjulin & Xrakovskij 1992: 31)
Notes
1. Xrakovskij & Volodin state this implication the other way round (#676): If there is person-number distinction in the forms of the indicative, the same distinction will be in the forms of the imperative.2. Cf. ##433, 434 for the distribution of voice, aspect, and tense distinctions between indicative and non-indicative moods.
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2. Cf. <a class="innerLink" href="browse.php?entry_id=433"><img src="../img/entry.gif" border="0">, <a class="innerLink" href="browse.php?entry_id=434"><img src="../img/entry.gif" border="0"> for the distribution of voice, aspect, and tense distinctions between indicative and non-indicative moods.