Universal #4

Legacy number: 2

 Number  2
 Original  In languages with postpositions the genitive almost always precedes the governing noun.
 Standardized  IF adpositions follow their NPs (i.e. they are postpositions), THEN head nouns almost always follow their attributive nouns (genitives).
 Formula  Postposition ⇒ G N
 Keywords  order, postposition, attributive, genitive
 Domain  syntax
 Type  implication
 Status  achronic
 Quality  statistical, almost absolute
 Basis  30 languages of Greenberg 1963 sample
 Source  Greenberg 1963: 78, #2

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Discussion
Counterexamples
Postp & N G:
Rutulian and other Daghestanian languages (Greenberg 1963).
Tepehuán (Uto-Aztecan) (Pickett 1983: 542).
Kanuri (Saharan, Nilo-Saharan), Majang (Surmic, Nilo-Saharan); Moru (unclassified, Gur, Niger-Congo); Harar Oromo, Waata Oromo (Cushitic, Afroasiatic); Sumerian (isolate); Elamite (isolate); Manam (Oceanic, Austronesian); Djingili (West Barkly, Australian), Laragia (Laragiyan, Australian), Thaayore, Alyawarra, Aranda (Pama-Nyungan, Australian) (Dryer 2000).

Notes
In essence arguably diachronic; see Comments to #1.
Comment
Frans Plank · 3 Aug 2006
In essence arguably diachronic; see Comments to <a class="innerLink" href="browse.php?entry_id=3"><img src="../img/entry.gif" border="0">.