Universal #607

Legacy number: 607

 Number  604
 Original  If the possessive adjective follows the noun, then the relative clause follows the noun.
 Standardized  IF the possessive adjective follows the noun, THEN the relative clause follows the noun.

OR, BY CONTRAPOSITION:
IF the relative clause precedes the noun, THEN the possessive adjective precedes the noun.
 Formula  N Poss ⇒ N Rel;
equivalently: Rel N ⇒ Poss N
 Keywords  possessive, noun, adjective, order
 Domain  syntax
 Type  implication
 Status  achronic
 Quality  absolute
 Basis  sample of 350 languages in Hawkins 1983
 Source  Hawkins 1983: 111

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Discussion
Notes
Since the 1990s, Hawkins proposes alternative explanations of his universals (see e.g. Hawkins 1993: 234).
Comment
Frans Plank · 3 Aug 2006
Since the 1990s, Hawkins proposes alternative explanations of his universals (see e.g. Hawkins 1993: 234).