Universal #679
Legacy number: 679
| Number | 676 |
| Original | If a language has replacive relative clauses, then in the basic word order of the language verbs follow their objects, and there is a general rule of left-to-right deletion of anaphora. |
| Standardized | IF there are replacive relative clauses, THEN in the basic word order verbs follow their objects, and there is a general rule of left-to-right deletion of anaphora. |
| Formula | replacive RelCl ⇒ OV & left-to-right deletion of anaphora |
| Keywords | relative clause, replacive (=internal, =headless), order, OV, anaphora |
| Domain | syntax |
| Type | implication |
| Status | achronic |
| Quality | absolute |
| Basis | languages mentioned in Downing 1978 |
| Source | Downing 1978: 399 |
Discussion
Counterexamples
Riau dialect of Indonesian (a colloquial variety of Indonesian spoken in East Central Sumatra), has left headed (the most common option), right headed, or internally headed RelCls. In Riau, word order is quite free, but in general, VO order occurs with greater frequency than OV. Moreover, adpositions invariably occur before their NPs, further supporting the characterization of the language as basically VO. Colloquial Singapore English , also known as Singlish, has internally-headed relative clauses but VO order and left-headed relative clauses. (Gil 2000)
Notes
1. Downing labels headless RelCs replacive relative clauses when the clause stands in the place of the nominal it is used to modify.2. Keenan (#1595) calls such relative clauses ‘internal RelCs’, Gil (2000) and Cole (1987) refer to them as to ‘internally headed RelCs’, Gorbet (#1601) calls them ‘headless relative clauses’. 3. Gil 2000 reformulates this statement the following way: Internally-headed relative clauses occur only in languages in which the basic word order is OV, or in which the other relative clauses are right-headed. 4. cf. a similar statement by Keenan (#1595).
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2. Keenan (<a class="innerLink" href="browse.php?entry_id=1595"><img src="../img/entry.gif" border="0">) calls such relative clauses 'internal RelCs', Gil 2000 and Cole 1987 refer to them as to 'internally headed RelCs', Gorbet (<a class="innerLink" href="browse.php?entry_id=1601"><img src="../img/entry.gif" border="0">) calls them 'headless relative clauses'.
3. Gil 2000 reformulates this statement the following way: Internally-headed relative clauses occur only in languages in which the basic word order is OV, or in which the other relative clauses are right-headed.
4. cf. a similar statement by Keenan (<a class="innerLink" href="browse.php?entry_id=1595"><img src="../img/entry.gif" border="0">).