Universal #62

Legacy number: 62

 Number  62
 Original  If the relative expression precedes the noun either as the only construction or as an alternate construction, either the language is postpositional or the adjective precedes the noun or both.
 Standardized  IF the relative clause precedes the noun either as the only or as an alternative construction, THEN either adpositions follow NPs (i.e. are postpositions) or the adjective precedes the noun or both.
 Formula  Rel N ⇒ Postposition &/v Adj N
 Keywords  order, relative clause, adjective, noun, postposition
 Domain  syntax
 Type  implication
 Status  achronic
 Quality  statistical
 Basis  30 languages of Greenberg 1963 sample
 Source  Greenberg 1963: 91, #24

← Back to Universals Archive

Discussion

No discussion yet.