Universal #998

Legacy number: 998

 Number  994
 Original  Languages with a particle comparative are languages with no deranking (i.e. they are balancing) and with total identity deletion.
 Standardized  IF there is particle comparative, THEN there is no deranking and total identity deletion.
or
IF there is particle comparative, THEN there is balancing and total identity deletion
 Formula  particle comparative ⇒ ¬ deranking & total identity deletion;
particle comparative ⇒ balancing & total identity deletion
 Keywords  comparative, deranking, balancing, identity deletion
 Domain  syntax
 Type  implication
 Status  achronic
 Quality  statistical
 Basis  sample of 110 languages
 Source  Stassen 1984: 174, Stassen 1985: 317

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Discussion
Notes
PARTICLE COMPARATIVES are predominantly instances of derived-case comparison; unlike conjoined comparatives (cf. #993), however, they do not have the structural form of a coordination of clauses. A second feature shared by all particle comparatives is the presence of a specific comparative particle accompanying (usually, preceding) the standard NP. A particle comparativeis are attested for example for English, French, and Russian.
Comment
Frans Plank · 3 Aug 2006
PARTICLE COMPARATIVES are predominantly instances of derived-case comparison; unlike conjoined comparatives (cf. <a class="innerLink" href="browse.php?entry_id=993"><img src="../img/entry.gif" border="0">), however, they do not have the structural form of a coordination of clauses. A second feature shared by all particle comparatives is the presence of a specific comparative particle accompanying (usually, preceding) the standard NP. A particle comparativeis are attested for example for English, French, and Russian.