Universal 11: OV ⇒ agglutinative

Universal 11: OV ⇒ agglutinative

Original

Consistent OV languages tend to be agglutinative in their morphology.

Standardized

IF basic order is consistently OV, THEN the morphology tends to be agglutinative.

Keywords

order, OV, agglutination

Domain

morphology, syntax

Type

implication

Status

achronic

Quality

statistical

Basis

languages in Lehmann 1973

Source

W.P.Lehmann 1973: 47

Counterexamples

Akkadian (E. Semitic, Afro-Asiatic): basic constituent order OV, but language is highly (intro-)flexive/fusional (e.g. izzakar < *iztakar ‘he called’ consisting of three morphemes, i- [3sg.m.], z_k_r ‘call‘, _ta_a [Perfekt]). Akkadian word order differs from that of other Semitic languages and is generally thought to be influenced by Sumerian. (F. Kammerzell, p.c.)