Universal #488

Legacy number: 488

 Number  486
 Original  If a language uses a non-zero case marking for a direct object on the animacy/definiteness hierarchies, then it uses a non-zero case marking for direct objects higher on the hierarchies.
 Standardized  When direct object is zero-marked or non-zero-marked depending on animacy/definiteness, non-zero case marking is used for direct objects higher on the hierarchies.
 Keywords  case, accusative, zero, direct object, animacy, definiteness
 Domain  inflection, syntax
 Type  no genuine implication; rather: provided that
 Status  achronic
 Quality  absolute
 Basis  languages surveyed in Croft 1990
 Source  Croft 1990: 128

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Discussion
Notes
1. Animacy/definiteness hierarchy: Person: 1st, 2nd < 3rd; NP type: pronoun < proper name < common; Animacy: human < animate < inanimate; Definiteness: definite < referential < non-referential.2. Relative rank is not predictable since there is a cluster of 4 hierarchies.3. Cf. ##12, 46, 1284.
Comment
Frans Plank · 3 Aug 2006
1. Animacy/definiteness hierarchy:
Person: 1st, 2nd < 3rd; <br> NP type: pronoun < proper name < common; <br>Animacy: human < animate < inanimate; <br>Definiteness: definite < referential < non-referential.<br>
2. Relative rank is not predictable since there is a cluster of 4 hierarchies.

3. Cf. <a class="innerLink" href="browse.php?entry_id=13"><img src="../img/entry.gif" border="0">, <a class="innerLink" href="browse.php?entry_id=46"><img src="../img/entry.gif" border="0">, <a class="innerLink" href="browse.php?entry_id=1284"><img src="../img/entry.gif" border="0">.