Universal #374
Legacy number: 374
| Number | 373 |
| Original | There is a positive correlation between higher syllable-per-sentence and syllable-per word ratios, simpler (or shorter) syllables, agglutinative morphology, and (S)OV basic word order on the one hand and between lower syllable-per-sentence and syllable-per-word ratios, more complex (or longer) syllables, flective (or no) morphology, and (S)V(S)O basic word order on the other. |
| Standardized | IF there are high syllable-per-sentence and high syllable-per-word ratios & simple syllables & agglutinative morphology, THEN basic word order will be (S)OV. IF there are low syllable-per-sentence and low syllable-per-word ratios & complex syllables & flexive [or no] morphology, THEN basic word order will be (S)V(S)O. |
| Keywords | agglutination, flexion, syllable, order, complexity |
| Domain | phonology, morphology, syntax |
| Type | implication |
| Status | achronic |
| Quality | absolute |
| Basis | ? |
| Source | Fenk & Fenk-Oczlon 1993, Fenk-Oczlon & Fenk 1994, Fenk-Oczlon & Fenk 1995, discussed in Plank 1996, Plank 1998 |
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