Universals Archive

1. A N & N Num: A number of Niger-Congo languages, almost all the Adamawa-Ubangian group, at least one Benue-Congo language, e.g. Efik, Sango, Zande (Greenberg 1989a: 113, 1995: 147; see also Dryer 1988: 208). Gbaya Kaka, Gbeya Bossangoa, Sango, Linda, Zande, Nzakara, Barambu, Ma (all Adamawa-Ubangian, Niger-Congo); Majang (Surmic, Nilo-Saharan); Gude (Biu-Mandara, Chadic, Afro-Asiatic), Hausa, Pa’anci (West Chadic, Afro-Asiatic); Newari, Tamang, Gurung, Thakali, Purki, Balti (Tibetic, Tibeto-Burman), Gallong, Mising, Nishi, Idu (Mirish, Tibeto-Burman); Yagaria, Kewa (East New Guinea Highlands); Yareba (Central and SE New Guinea); Ambulas (Sepik) (Dryer 2000).2. A N & N Dem: Tojolabal and Tzotzil (both Mayan) (Pickett 1983: 543).Berbice Dutch Creole; Mangbetu (C. Sudanic, Nilo-Saharan) [but see Comment 1], the latter is also a language with A N & N Num (Rijkhoff 1992: 257). Gbaya Kaka, Nzakara, Gbeya Bossangoa, Sango, Linda (all Adamawa-Ubangian, Niger-Congo); Majang (Surmic, Nilo-Saharan), Kresh (Bongo-Bagirmi, Nilo-Saharan); Gude (Biu-Mandara, Chadic, Afro-Asiatic), Hausa, Pa’anci (West Chadic, Afro-Asiatic), Chaha (Semitic, Afro-Asiatic); Lahu (Burmic, Sino-Tibetan)[but see Comment 1], Dafla (Tibetic, Sino-Tibetan)[but see Comment 1]; Central Agta (Philippine Austronesian); Nisgha, Coast Tsimshian (Tsimshianic); Jakaltek (Mayan) (Dryer 1989: 272, 2000).

1. Dryer 2000 no longer classifies Dafla (=Nishi) as AN & NDem, but as AN & DemN/NDem. In fact the typical structure is DemNDem, with two co-occurring demonstrative words. Also, closer examination of Lahu shows it to be AN/NA, not AN. Dryer classifies Mangbetu as NA, not AN.2. Cf. claims of Hawkins’ and Dryer’s: ##73, 75, 114.