Universal #58

Legacy number: 58

 Number  58
 Original  When the general rule is that the descriptive adjective follows, there may be a minority of adjectives which usually precede, but when the general rule is that descriptive adjectives precede, there are no exceptions.
 Standardized  IF the general rule is that the descriptive adjective follows the noun, THEN there may be a minority of adjectives which usually precede, but IF the general rule is that descriptive adjectives precede the noun, THEN there are no exceptions.
 Keywords  order, adjective, noun
 Domain  syntax
 Type  no genuine implication; rather: provided that
 Status  achronic
 Quality  absolute
 Basis  30 languages of Greenberg 1963 sample
 Source  Greenberg 1963: 87, #19

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Discussion
Notes
1. Are these lgs where As normally follows N but some As precede N lgs with incomplete N FRONTING? — i.e., lgs which are underlyingly A N and where N is normally fronted, except with certain As which want to be initial themselves. There would then be (i) underlying/surface A N lgs, (ii) underlying/surface N A lgs, and (iii) underlying A N lgs with N FRONTING. 2. Cf. #1157.
Comment
Frans Plank · 3 Aug 2006
1. Are these lgs where As normally follows N but some As precede N lgs with incomplete – FRONTING? – i.e., lgs which are underlyingly A N and where N is normally fronted, except with certain As which want to be initial themselves.

There would then be (i) underlying/surface A N lgs, (ii) underlying/surface N A lgs, and (iii) underlying A N lgs with N FRONTING.

2. Cf. <a class="innerLink" href="browse.php?entry_id=1157"><img src="../img/entry.gif" border="0">