Universal #984

Legacy number: 984

 Number  980
 Original  If a language has a separative comparative, then it is SOV.
 Standardized  IF there is a separative comparative, THEN basic order is SOV.
 Formula  separative comparative ⇒ SOV
 Keywords  comparative, order, SOV
 Domain  syntax
 Type  implication
 Status  achronic
 Quality  statistical
 Basis  sample of 110 languages
 Source  Stassen 1984: 156

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Discussion
Counterexamples
Arabic, Hebrew (both Semitic, Afro-Asiatic), Coeur d’Alene (Salish), Guarani (Tupi), Finnish (Finnic, Uralic) (Stassen 1984)
Notes
1. The separative comparative is an instance of fixed-case comparative constructions in which the standard NP is invariably encoded as a constituent part of an adverbial phrase with a separative (‘source’) interpretation.2. This statement is derived by transitivity from #988 and #994.
Comment
Frans Plank · 3 Aug 2006
1. The SEPARATIVE COMPARATIVE is an instance of fixed-case comparative constructions in which the standard NP is invariably encoded as a constituent part of an adverbial phrase with a separative ('source') interpretation.

2. This statement is derived by transitivity from <a class="innerLink" href="browse.php?entry_id=988"><img src="../img/entry.gif" border="0"> and <a class="innerLink" href="browse.php?entry_id=994"><img src="../img/entry.gif" border="0">.