Universal #840
Legacy number: 840
| Number | 837 |
| Original | VSO languages tend to have Person-Number inflection. |
| Standardized | IF basic order is VSO, THEN there is very likely to be verbal person-number inflection or both person-number and tense-aspect-mood inflection, but not verbal tense-aspect-mood without person-number inflection. |
| Formula | VSO ⇒ Person & Number inflection |
| Keywords | order, VSO, verb, person, number, tense, aspect, mood |
| Domain | syntax, inflection |
| Type | implication |
| Status | achronic |
| Quality | statistical |
| Basis | 50 languages of Bybee 1985b sample; see Bybee 1985b: 215-6 |
| Source | Bybee 1985b: 46-47 |
Discussion
Notes
88% of VSO languages in Bybee’s sample have full-inflection type. 12% of VSO languages have no inflection.
Comment
88% of VSO languages in Bybee's sample have full-inflection type. 12% of VSO languages have no inflection.
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