Universal #620

Legacy number: 620

 Number  617
 Original  Whenever a language has both a more explicit and less explicit way of forming relative clauses, then the more explicit type will be used lower down the hierarchy and the less explicit type higher up the hierarchy.
 Standardized  IF there are two ways of forming relative clauses, THEN the more explicit type will be used lower down the hierarchy and the less explicit type higher up the hierarchy.
 Keywords  accessibility hierarchy, relative clause
 Domain  syntax
 Type  no genuine implication; rather: provided that
 Status  achronic
 Quality  absolute
 Basis  105 languages in Comrie’s sample
 Source  Comrie 1981: 156

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Discussion
Notes
The generalization has a functional basis: the more difficult a position is to relativize, the more explicit indication is given of what position is being relativized, to facilitate recovery of this information.
Comment
Frans Plank · 3 Aug 2006
The generalization has a functional basis: the more difficult a position is to relativize, the more explicit indication is given of what position is being relativized, to facilitate recovery of this information.