Universal #499
Legacy number: 499
| Number | 497 |
| Original | If a language has dominant order VSO in declarative sentences, it always puts interrogative words or phrases first in interrogative word questions; if it has dominant order SOV in declarative sentences, there is never such an invariant rule. |
| Standardized | IF basic order in declarative sentences is VSO, THEN interrogative words or phrases always occupy the first position in interrogative word questions. IF basic order is SOV, THEN there is never such an invariant rule. |
| Formula | VSO => initial interrogative word; SOV ⇒ ¬initial interrogative word |
| Keywords | order, sentence type, interrogative, interrogative word, VSO, SOV, wh-movement |
| Domain | syntax |
| Type | implication |
| Status | achronic |
| Quality | absolute (for Greenberg), statistical (for Ultan) |
| Basis | 30 languages of Greenberg 1963 sample |
| Source | Greenberg 1963: 83, #12, Ultan 1978c: 231 |
Discussion
Counterexamples
For the first part: Samoan (Remote Oceanic, E. Malayo-Polynesian, Austronesian), Sango (Benue-Congo, Niger-Congo) (Ultan 1978c: 231).For the second part: Yaqui, Huichol (both Uto-Aztecan), Isthmus Mixe, Chimalapa Zoque (both Mixe-Zoquean) are SOV languages, but they do front the question words (Pickett 1983: 539).
Notes
1. Ultan is less categorical:Question words tend to occur in sentence-initial position in languages of all types; the ratio in favour of this is approximately three to one. However, the ratio in SOV languages is only about one to one.2. Cf. ##1637, 1638.
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Question words tend to occur in sentence-initial position in languages of all types; the ratio in favour of this is approximately three to one. However, the ratio in SOV languages is only about one to one.
2. Cf. <a class="innerLink" href="browse.php?entry_id=1637"><img src="../img/entry.gif" border="0">, <a class="innerLink" href="browse.php?entry_id=1638"><img src="../img/entry.gif" border="0">.